experimental methods Flashcards
what is a laboratory experiment
an experiment that is conducted in a highly controlled environment. this is not always in a lab, it could be in somewhere like a classroom as long as its carefully controlled
AO3: how is ‘high control over extraneous variables’ a strength to lab experiments?
they have high control over extraneous variables. this means that the researcher can ensure that any effect on the DV is likely to be the result of manipulation of the IV. thus we can be more certain about demonstrating cause and effect. has high internal validity
AO3: how is ‘high replicability’ a strength to lab experiments?
replication is more possible than in other types of experiments because of the high level of control. this ensures that new extraneous variables are not introduced when repeating an experiment. replication is vital to check that the results of a study are valid and not just a one off.
AO3: how is ‘lacks generalisability’ a limitation to lab experiments?
lab experiments tend to lack generalisability as a lab environment is very artifical and not like everyday life. in an unfamiliar context, participants may behave in unsual ways so their behaviour can’t always be generalised beyond the setting. (low external validity)
AO3: how is ‘demand characteristics and low mundane realism’ a limitation to lab experiments?
participants are usually aware they are being tested in lab experiments, but may not know why. this means that they may change their behaviour to act how they believe they want the researcher to act, this is demand characteristics. furthermore, the tasks the participants were asked to carry out in a lab experiment don’t usually represent real life experience. this is low mundane realism.
what is a field experiment?
when the IV is manipulated in a more natural environment
AO3: how is ‘high mundane realism’ a strength to field experiments?
field experiments have higher mundane realism compared to lab experiments as it is a more natural environment. this means that field experiments tend to produce more valid and authentic behaviour, especially if participants don’t know their being studied (high external validity)
AO3: how is ‘lack of control over extraneous variables’ a limitation to field experiments?
there is a price to pay for increased realism due to the loss of control over extraneous variables. this means cause and effect between the IV and DV in field studies must be much more difficult to establish and precise replication is usually not possible.
AO3: how is ‘ethical issues’ a limitation to field experiments?
if participants don’t know their being observed, they cant consent to being studied and such research might constitute an invasion of privacy.
what is a quasi-experiment?
it has an IV that is based on an existing difference between people (age, gender). no one has manipulated this variable, it just exists.
AO3: how is ‘carefully controlled’ a strength to quasi experiments?
they are usually carried out under controlled conditions so share the same strengths as lab experiments?
AO3: how is ‘confounding variables’ a limitation to quasi experiments?
you cant randomly allocate participants to conditions.
what is a natural experiment?
it is when the researcher takes advantage of a pre existing IV. this is a natural experiment as the variables would’ve changed anyway, even if the researcher wasn’t interested. the IV is natural, not neciserraly the setting
AO3: how is ‘provides opportunities and high external validity’ a strength to natural experiments?
natural experiments provide oppertunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons, such as the Romanian orphan studies. they also have high external validity because they involve the study of real life issues and problems as they happen.
AO3: how is ‘rare oppertunities’ a limitation to natural experiments?
natural occurring events may only rarely happen, reducing the research oppertunities. this may also limit the scope for generalising findings to other similar situations.
