evaluation of experimental methods

Question 1

Laboratory experiment

Answer 1

• The researcher manipulates the IV and record the affect on DV
• takes place in a controlled environment

Question 2

advantages of laboratory experiment

Answer 2

• can be replicated due to high levels of control

- EVs controlled

Question 3

disadvantages of laboratory experiments

Answer 3

• artificial and lacks lacks ecological validity
• demand characteristics
• lacks mundane realism so it cannot be generalised to real life

Question 4

Field experiment

Answer 4

researcher manipulates the IV and record effect on the DV

-the experiment is carried out in the real world setting (natural)

Question 5

Advantages of a field experiment

Answer 5

• demand characteristics are reduced as they are not aware they are taking part
• ecologically valid, high mundane realism

Question 6

Disadvantages of field experiment

Answer 6

• difficult to replicate due to lower control
• ethical issues as participants have not consented
• EVs harder to control

Question 7

Natural experiment

Answer 7

• change in IV is not done by the researcher but it would’ve happened even if they had not been there
• can be in a controlled environment or not

Question 8

Advantages of natural experiment

Answer 8

• can study phenomena and harsher issues that have ethical problems
• higher ecological validity as they study it as it happens

Question 9

Disadvantages of natural

Answer 9

conditions are not always possible to find so it cannot be generalised to similar situations
- loss of control over EVs

Question 10

quasi experiment

Answer 10

IV based on differences which already exists between people such as age or gender

Question 11

advantages for quasi experiment

Answer 11

researcher has no impact

Question 12

Weaknesses of quasi experiment

Answer 12

Cant randomly allocate participants to conditions which can lead to confounding variables
-variables are pre-existing so we cannot control these and result can be down to other factors