Experiments

Question 1

Name the four types of experiments.

Answer 1

Field
Natural
Quasi
Lab

Question 2

What is a field experiment?

Answer 2

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV

Question 3

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 3

An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there
The researcher records the effect on the DV

Question 4

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 4

The study of pre existing conditions between people (e.g smokers and non smokers)

Question 5

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 5

They are experiments conducted in highly controlled environments, where the IV and DV are manipulated

Question 6

What are the strengths of a field experiment?

Answer 6

• Can conclude cause and effect
• High levels of internal validity due to the manipulation of variables
• Higher level of ecological validity, which means results can be applied to real life conditions

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of a field experiment?

Answer 7

• Less control over extraneous variables
• Time consuming
• Harder to replicate than lab experiments
• Random allocation to conditions is difficult

Question 8

What are the strengths of a natural experiment?

Answer 8

• High levels of ecological validity, meaning that results can be applied to real life situations
• Useful where it’s unethical or impossible to manipulate the IV

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of a natural experiment?

Answer 9

• Low internal validity as extraneous variables cannot be controlled
• No random allocation to conditions
• Low control over experiment (possible low reliability and validity)

Question 10

What are the strengths of a quasi experiment?

Answer 10

Carried out under controlled conditions - high internal validity and reliability

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of a quasi experiment?

Answer 11

No random allocation of participants to conditions - high chance of confounding variables

Question 12

What are the strengths of a lab experiment?

Answer 12

• Easy to establish cause and effect as the variables are highly manipulated and controlled
• High reliability - easily applied to other situations

Question 13

What are the weaknesses of a lab experiment?

Answer 13

• Lack ecological validity as they do not approximate real life situations
• High chance of demand characteristics and investigator effects
• Lack mundane realism

Question 14

What is cause and effect?

Answer 14

When changes in one variable may lead to changes in another

Question 15

What is a control group?

Answer 15

The group in an experiment in which the variable is not tested

Question 16

What is an experimental group?

Answer 16

The group in an experiment in which the variable is tested

Question 17

What is mundane realism?

Answer 17

The extent to which procedures involved in an experiment are similar to events occurring in real life

Question 18

What is a single blind study?

Answer 18

Where only the participants are unaware of the condition they’ve been placed in

Question 19

What is a double blind study?

Answer 19

Where neither the participants nor the experimenter know which conditions participants are placed in

Question 20

What is a pilot study?

Answer 20

A smaller version of a proposed study and researchers frequently conduct these to refine the methodology / strengthen future study design