Experimental methods- types of experiments

Question 1

experimental method

Answer 1

attempts to find cause and effect relationship (relationship between 2 things, one makes something else happen) between IV and DV.

Question 2

laboratory experiment

Answer 2

under controlled conditions+artifical environment.
researcher manipulates IV to measure DV.
controlled to minimise EV and prevent from becoming CV that may affect DV.
ppts aware being studied.
ecological validity low
replicability high

Question 3

strengths l

Answer 3

• high control over EV so prevented from becoming a CV that may negatively affect DV- can establish cause and effect-high internal validity
• easily replicated as standardised procedures -high external validity

Question 4

weaknesses l

Answer 4

• lacks generalisability as tasks and environment artificial, not everyday life representative- not natural-doesn’t represent real life-low mundane realism-low ecological validity-low external validity
• ppts aware being studied do behaviour may not be natural-demand characteristics- low ecological validity

Question 5

field experiment

Answer 5

natural setting+everyday+realistic.
researcher manipulates IV to measure DV.
EV not controlled
ppts not aware being studied.
ecological validity high
replicability low

Question 6

strengths f

Answer 6

• high ecological validity- as more mundane realism, environment natural so behaviour is natural- results generalised to everyday
• no demand characteristic as ppts unaware- behaviour natural-high external validity

Question 7

weaknesses f

Answer 7

• less control over EV and become CV- distort findings- key cause-effect not established as other factors could impact DV- low internal validity
• ethical issues- ppts unware being studied- no informed consent- invasion of privacy

Question 8

natural experiment

Answer 8

natural setting+everyday+realistic
IV cant control but measures DV.
IV=event already happened
EV not controlled
ppts not aware being studied.
ecological validity high
replicability low

Question 9

strengths n

Answer 9

• high external validity- high ecological validity- real-life issues as IV natural- not artificially manipulated
• researchers can study IV that’s unethical to investigate in lab or field

Question 10

weaknesses n

Answer 10

• difficult to control EV- cant tell whats impacted DV -cause and effect difficult to establish- low internal validity
• naturally occurring events interesting researcher may be rare- limits generalise

Question 11

quasi experiment

Answer 11

natural setting+controlled
can be conducted in lab but also natural setting
IV naturally exists (e.g. gender, fixed) so cant control but measures DV.
EV controlled/not controlled
ppts not aware being studied.
ecological validity high/low
replicability high/low

Question 12

strengths q

Answer 12

• allows resreacher to compare different types of ppl easily to see similarities and diffs between groups of ppl

Question 13

weaknesses q

Answer 13

• ppts cant be randomly allocated to research conditions to remove bias- harder to establish cause and effect- low internal validity
• no control- EV making diff to establish DV
• in lab- high control- low ecological validity- cant general to real life