Experiental Methods Flashcards
What are the 4 types of experimental method?
Lab
Field
Natural
Quasi
What is a lab experiment?
An experiment conducted in a lab which is a highly controlled environment where the manipulator manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV
What are the 2 strengths of a lab experiment?
High level of control over extraneous variables
High in reliability
Why does a lab experiment have high level of control over extraneous variables? Give an example. What can be established and what does this increase?
E.g. light. As it is carried out in an artificial environment (CONTEXT) therefore cause and effect cab be established between the IV and DV. Increasing internal validity.
Why is a lab experiment high in reliability?
the experiment (CONTEXT) can be easily reposted in the same conditions to check for consistent results?
What are the 2 limitations of a lab experiment?
Lacks ecological validty
Prone to demand characteristics
Why does a lab experiment lack ecological validity? What does this mean about the findings and what does this lower?
It’s carried out in an artificial environment (CONTEXT) therefore it is difficult to generalise the findings (CONTEXT) beyond the setting of the study, lowering the external validity
Why is a lab experiment prone to demand characteristics? What does this reduce?
Participants change their natural behaviour based on clues given off by the researcher (CONTEXT) this could lead to participants choosing to either help or hinder the researcher, reducing the internal validity
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural environment fro the ppts e.g. an office or school. Where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV
What are the two strengths of a field experiment?
less prone to demand characteristics
High ecological validity
why is a field experiment less prone to demand characteristics, what does this increase?
People might not know they are being arched so they are less likely to guess clues given off by the researcher and change their natural behaviour (CONTEXT), increasing the internal validity
Why is a field experiment high in ecological validity? What does this increase?
Based in a real life setting therefore it is easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings (CONTEXT), increasing the external validity
What are the two limitations of a field experiment?
Low in reliability
Ethical issue of lack of informed consent
Why if a field experiment low in reliability?
The environment is natural (CONTEXT), it is difficult to repeat with exactly the same conditions to check for consistent results
Why does a field experiment create the ethical issue of lack of informed consent?
People may not be aware they are being studied (CONTEXT) so wouldn’t have given their consent, if they become aware they may become upset and wish to withdraw their data from the research.
What is a natural experiment?
The researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV that would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested
What are the two strengths of a natural experiment>
Provide opportunities for research that may have not otherwise been undertaken
High ecological validity
What does a natural experiment provide? Give an example, what does this contribute towards?
Opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons e.g. Rutter’s Romanian orphan study would have been unethical to manipulate if institutionalisation had not occurred naturally (CONTEXT) therefore natural experiments contribute towards a greater understanding of behaviour
Why is a natural experiment high in ecological validity? What does this increase?
Often based in real life setting making it easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings (CONTEXT) increasing the external validity
What are the two limitations of a natural experiment?
Naturally occuring event may happen very rarely
Low control over extraneous variables
What does it mean if the naturally occurring event in a natural experiment happens very rarely?
It limits opportunities for research (CONTEXT) meaning its unlikely research can be repeated to check for consistent results
Why does a natural experiment have low control over extraneous variables, what does this make difficult to establish and lower?
They usually take place in a natural environment (CONTEXT). Therefore it is difficult to establish cause and effect between the IV and DV lowering the internal validity
What us a quasi experiment?
The IV is based on an existing individual difference between people which the researcher has not manipulated e,g age or gender. The researcher measures the effect on the DV
What do you have to do when identifying a strength of a quasi experiment?
Select the strengths and weaknesses based on the scenario telling you if it’s a natural or controlled environment
