Experimental Methods

Question 1

What are the features of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 1

1) experimenter has full control over IV and EV
2) take place in a controlled environment (eg laboratory)
3) participants aware they are in an experiment
4) participants randomly allocated to conditions

Question 2

What are the strengths of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 2

1) high control over IV and EV meaning greater validity and objectivity
2) high cause and effect
3) easy to replicate

Question 3

What are the limitations of laboratory experiments?

Answer 3

1) participants may portray demand characteristics
2) low ecological validity
3) possible ethical issues (eg deception to reduce demand characteristics)

Question 4

What are the features of a field experiment?

Answer 4

1) IV is deliberately manipulated by experimenter but less control over EV
2) take place in a natural environment
3) participants tend to not be aware they are in an experiment

Question 5

What are the strengths of a field experiment?

Answer 5

1) high ecological validity
2) low demand characteristics

Question 6

What are the limitations of a field experiment?

Answer 6

1) difficult to replicate
2) low cause and effect
3) possible ethical issues (eg deception and consent)

Question 7

What are the features of a natural experiment?

Answer 7

1) IV is naturally occurring and therefore not deliberately manipulated
2) take place in participants’ usual environment
3) no control over EV
4) participants not aware they are involved

Question 8

What are the strengths of a natural experiment?

Answer 8

1) high ecological validity (possibly - unless IV occurred in a lab)
2) low demand characteristics
3) allows for the investigation of situations that are not usually possible due to impractical or ethical issues

Question 9

What are the limitations of a natural experiment?

Answer 9

1) difficult to replicate
2) low cause and effect
3) possible ethical issues (eg deception and consent)

Question 10

What are the features of a quasi experiment?

Answer 10

1) IV is a characteristic of the participant so participants can’t be randomly allocated
2) can occur in artificial or natural environments so there may be control over EV

Question 11

What is the strength of a quasi experiment?

Answer 11

1) allows for investigation of situations not usually possible due to impractical or ethical reasons

Question 12

What is the limitation of a quasi experiment?

Answer 12

1) low cause and effect as not all EVs are controlled