experiments Flashcards
a.k.a laboratory methods
what is an experiment ?
an experiment is research where the researcher will actively test a hypothesis in an environment where all the variables are closely controlled so that the effect of changing one variable can be understood.
what’s a labatory experiment
use revision guide example
The laboratory experiment- takes place in an artificial setting, with an artificial scenario, unknown to the participant.
E.g. One participant having a revision guide and class notes and the other having just the class notes, both revising for a 2 hr period in a controlled environment like a classroom without decoration
what is a field experiment ?
use revision guide example
the field experiment takes place in the participants natural environment with set controls put in place. For example, two separate classes one having the revision guides and another not. Then revising for a 2hr period and doing a test on everything they’ve learned.
what is a natural experiment ?
use the revision guide example
a natural experiment is also in the participants natural environment but with no controls in place a.k.a the comparable method- called this because two groups with one factor differing would be studied instead of the researcher putting in place the control. e.g seeing at the start of the year who has already got a revision guide and who doesn’t and compare at the end.
what’s an independent variable
variables that YOU change e.g the revision guide
what is a control group
the people/ thing you don’t change, so you have something to compare to e.g the children without the revision guide.
what’s an experimental group
the people with the revision guide
dependent variable
something the researcher measures - results
what is a control variable
the class notes, the things the researcher has to keep the same.
what is meant by Labelling
this is when a student gets told they ‘are’ a particular way, by a teacher or other student e.g ‘you’re bad at maths’ or ‘you’re clever’ this can impact their self concept- how they view themselves, leading to a self- fulfilling prophecy.
what is the halo effect
this is when teachers form judgements about their students and perhaps labelled their students
what is the Hawthorne effect
this is when students/ the people being researched act in a certain way they think that the researcher wants them to act which is unavoidable in observations.
what are the pros/ cons and studies of lab experiments
what studies accomapny this ?
pros : easy to make representative
reliable quantitive data that’s all variables are controlled repeatable results & generalised.
cons : unethical, demand characteristics, could be permanently effecting people for the experiment. no valid versterhen.
studies; Harvey and satin 1976, investigated teachers expectations of students.
charkin et al (1975) uni students teaching 10 year old boy some got told he was smart, some got told he was not smart.
what are the pros, cons and studies of field experiments
pros; takes part in a natural environment. practical as already in the environment, valid data.
cons; people may act in a certain way, Hawthorne effect. the results won’t be able to be repeated, outside influence so less reliable.
studies; Rosenthal and Jacobson, California primary school to see who would ‘spurt’ next year. pupils randomly selected and teachers were told if the student was smart or not- see how this effected performance.
Elton mayo studied electrician company, productivity went up as conditions worsened.
pros, cons and studies of natural experiment
what studies accompany this ?
pros; people are in a natural environment, people cat more natural, no detrimental controls.
cons; impossible to tell what factors are effecting what. results could be inaccurate. hard to find trends.
studies; Durkheim collected suicide stats in various areas of France and other European countries.
