Experimental method Flashcards
Experimental method
Type of experiments
Lab experiment
An experiment that takes place in a controlled enviroment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.
Lab experiment strengths
High internal validity
Controls for extrenuous variables
We can be confident that any change in DV is bc of IV
Lab weaknesses
Participants usually aware that their behaviour is being studied.
This leads participants to search for cues ab the aim of the experiment
Affects behaviour
Low ecological validity
Plus setting= low ecological validity
Uncomfortable in an unknown setting
IV may be operationalised in a way that it doesn’t represent everyday experiences- lack mundane realism
= low ecological validity
Field experiment
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV.
Field strength
Participants are not aware that their behaviour is being studied
Don’t respond to demand characteristics and therefore behaviour may be more natural
And setting= more natural
Generalisable ab real life
Field limitations
IV may be operationalised in a way that it doesn’t represent everyday experiences- lack mundane realism
= low ecological validity
Difficult to control extrenuous variables
Ethical issue- if participants dont know theyre being studied, it is difficult to debrief them.
Natural experiment
To investigate relationships between an IV and DV in situations were IV cannot be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons
Natural strength
Allows reasearch where IV cannot be manipulated
Therefore can study real life issues
Eg effects of institutionalisation
Natural weakness
Cannot determine causal relationships
Random allocation not possble= confounding variables
Quasi
Investigate relationships between IV and DV where IV is a characteristic
Quasi strength
Allows comparison between types of ppl
Quasi weakness
Can’t randomly allocate participants
