Experiment Types A1 Flashcards
Define Laboratory Experiements
When an experiment takes place in a highly controlled environment/condition
What are the Strengths of Lab Experiments?
- High control over EVs
- High internal validity
- Easily Replicable
What are the Limitations of Lab Experiments?
- Low External Validity
- Low Mundane Realism (artificial tasks - also impacts generalisability)
- Demand Characteristics are likely
Define Field Experiments
An experiment where the IV is manipulated in a natural setting
What are the strengths of Field Experiments?
- High Mundane Realism
- Produce authentic behaviour
- High external vaildity
What are the limitations of Field Experiments?
- Lack of control over EVs
- Ethical Issues; consent needs to be ensured
- Replicability
Define Natural Experiments
When the IV is pre-existing and would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested
What are the strengths of Natural Experiments?
- Provide opportunities that may have not been previously taken due to ethics
- High External Validity
What are the limitations of Natural Experiments?
- Generalisability
- Impacts methodology as ppts may not be randomly allocated
Give an example of a Natural Experiment
Rutters Romanian-English Adoptee study
Define a Quasi Experiment
When the IV is based on an existing difference between ppts - the variable simply exists
e.g. age, gender
What are the strengths of Quasi Experiments?
- Often done in controlled conditions
What are the limitations of Quasi Experiments?
- Ppts cant be randomly allocated so confounding variables are likely
