Experimental research methods Flashcards
1
Q
Purpose of lab experiment
A
- to control all relevant variables, except one key variable to see what the effect is
- the variable altered is the independent variable
- conducted in artificial setting
2
Q
Advantages of lab experiment
A
- control- effects of confounding variables minimised
- replication- strict control means the study can be run again
- casual relationships- possible to establish if one variable actually causes change in another
3
Q
Disadvatages of lab experiment
A
- artifical- experiments might not measure real life behaviour
- demand characteristics- pps may respond according to what they think is being investigated
- ethics- deception is often used
4
Q
Purpose of field experiment
A
- conducted outside the lab
- behaviour is measured in a natural environment
- a key variable is altered so that its effect can be measured
5
Q
Advantages of field experiments
A
- cause and effect can be established, however difficult to do
- ecological validity- less artificial than those done in lab
- demand characteristics- these can be avoided if pps don’t know they’re in a study
6
Q
Disadvantages of field experiment
A
- less control- confounding variables may be more likely in a natural environment
- ethics- pps who didn’t agree to take part may experience distress and can’t be debriefed
7
Q
Purpose of natural experiments
A
- researcher looks at how an independent variable, which isn’t manipulated, affects a dependent variable
- IV not manipulated because it’s an event which occurs naturally
- pps allocated randomly
8
Q
Advantages of natural experiments
A
- ethical- possible to study variables that it would be unethical to manipulate
- demand characteristics- pps might not know they’re in a study
- ecological validity- tend to be less artifical than lab experiments
9
Q
Disadvantages of natural experiments
A
- casual relationships- because IV isn’t manipulated, it’s hard to establish casual relationships
- ethics- deception is used, making informed consent difficult
10
Q
Purpose of quasi experiments
A
- researcher unable to use random allocation
- IV is a particular feature of the pps, such as gender
11
Q
Advantages of quasi experiments
A
- control- carried under controlled conditions
- ecological validity- the research is often less artificial than lab studies so more able to generalise results to real life
12
Q
Disadvantages of quasi experiments
A
- pp allocation- confounding variables
- hard to establish cause and effect because IV not being manipulated
