experimental methods

Question 1

Experimental methods

Answer 1

• the tool being used

Question 2

Types of experimental methods

Answer 2

• lab
• field
• natural
• quasi

Question 3

Lab

Answer 3

• experiment conducted in lab
• highly controlled environment
• where researcher manipulates IV
• and measures effect on DV

Question 4

Strength of lab - AO3 - high control over EV

Answer 4

• high level of control over extraneous variables (CONTEXT)
• cause and effect can be established between IV and DV
• increases internal validity of research

Question 5

Strength of lab - AO3 - hight reliability

Answer 5

• high reliability
• experiment (CONTEXT) can be easily repeated
• in same conditions
• to check for consistent results

Question 6

Limitation of lab - AO3 - lacks ecological validity

Answer 6

• lacks ecological validity
• carried out in artificial environment (CONTEXT)
• so difficult to generalise findings (CONTEXT)
• beyond setting of study
• lowering external validity

Question 7

Limitation of lab - AO3 - prone demand characteristics

Answer 7

• prone to demand characteristics
• ppts change natural behaviour
• based on clues by researcher (CONTEXT)
• lead to ppt choosing to help or hinder research
• lowering internal validity

Question 8

Field

Answer 8

• experiement in natural environment
• such as office or school
• researcher manipulates IV
• and measures effect on DV

Question 9

Strength of field - AO3 - no demand characteristics

Answer 9

• less prone demand characteristics
• ppt not know being watched
• less likely to guess clues given by researcher
• less likely change natural behaviour (CONTEXT)
• increases internal validity

Question 10

Strength of field - AO3 - high ecological validity

Answer 10

• high ecological validity
• based in real life setting
• so easier to generalise findings
• beyond setting of study to other similar (CONTEXT)
• increases internal validity

Question 11

Limitation of field - AO3 - low reliability

Answer 11

• low reliability
• environment is natural (CONTEXT)
• difficult to repeat
• with exactly same conditions
• to check for consistent results

Question 12

Limitation of field - AO3 - ethical issue

Answer 12

• could create ethical issue
• lack of informed consent
• ppl not aware being studied (CONTEXT)
• would not have given consent
• if ppt become aware may become upset
• wish to withdraw data from research

Question 13

Natural

Answer 13

• researcher takes advantage of naturally occurring IV
• variable would have changed even if experimenter not interested

IV natural not setting could be in a lab

Question 14

Strength of natural - AO3 - opportunity

Answer 14

• provide opportunity for research
• may not otherwise occur
• for ethical or practical reasons
• e.g. Rutter’s study on romanian orphans - unethical to manipulate unless institutionalisation (IV) not occurred naturally
• (CONTEXT)
• so contributes to greater psychological understanding of behaviour

Question 15

Strength of natural - AO3 - high ecological validity

Answer 15

• high ecological validity
• often based in real life settings
• so easier to generalise findings
• beyond setting of the study
• to other similar settings (CONTEXT)
• increases external validity

Question 16

Limitation of natural - AO3 - rare

Answer 16

• happen very rarely
• limits opportunities for research (CONTEXT)
• means is unlikely research can be repeated
• to check for consistent results
• so lacks reliability

Question 17

Limitation of natural - AO3 - low control EV

Answer 17

• low control over extraneous variables
• take place in natural environment (CONTEXT)
• so difficult to establish cause and effect
• between IV and DV
• lowers internal validity

Question 18

Quasi

Answer 18

• IV based on existing individual differences
• between people
• researcher has not manipulated
• e.g. age or gender
• measures affect on DV

Question 19

AO3 for quasi

Answer 19

• can be conducted in natural or controlled environment
• field or lab
• so select appropriate strength and limitation
• based on scenario

Question 20

Limitation for quasi - AO3 - sample bias

Answer 20

• sample bias
• sample being studied may have unique characteristics
• (CONTEXT)
• so difficult to generalise to target population (CONTEXT)
• decreases external validity

Question 21

Define demand characteristics (2m)

Answer 21

• any clues given off within research
• could lead to ppt’s changing natural behaviour
• to either help or hinder research (CONTEXT)
• reducing internal validity

Question 22

How can demand characteristics be controlled?

Answer 22

• getting another researcher
• who does not know aims of research (CONTEXT)
• to carry out experiment
• so cannot give off clues to influence ppts
• increase internal validity
  (controls help increase internal validity)