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.