experiments

Question 1

What is an experiment ?

Answer 1

Where sientists manipulate variables in which they are interested in to see what effectd occur

• this method allows causational relationships to be drawn

Question 2

Theroretical strengths

Answer 2

• standardised precedure allows for replicability - **reliability **
• detached method / no bias or influence from researcher

Question 3

Practical strengths

Answer 3

• control of environmental influences

Question 4

ethical strengths

Question 5

Ethical issues

Answer 5

• lack of informed consent - can be difficult to obtain
• deception - often considered wrong though can be justified
• harm - ppt may be physically or psychologically harmed

Question 6

Practical issues

Answer 6

• lack of control
• costly
• requires funding for project and space

Question 7

theoretical affects validity

What is the hawthorne effect ?

Answer 7

• people acting differently as they are knowing of the aim
• acting up to what they think the researcher would want

Question 8

MAYO - hawthorne effect study evidence

Answer 8

research into workers productivity in a plant
* working with 5 female volunteers who knew he was conducting experiement - he altered conditions such as heating and lighting

• working input increased when condtions were better or worse

concluding that - the workers were responding to the fact they were beign studied rather than the experimenters variables

Question 9

interpretivists view on expriment

Answer 9

as they belive are behavuours cannot be explained in terms of cause and effect only the meaning we give things
* believe lab is not an effetive way of studying human behaviour

Question 10

What is a field study?

Answer 10

• takes place in the subjects natural setting
• those involved not aware
• reseacher manipulates IV

Question 11

Rosenhan field study example

Answer 11

researchers presented themselves at 12 mh hospitals saying they hearing voices
* each admitted and diagnosed with schizophrenia

once in hospital didnt complain and acted normally

( hospital staff still treated them as though mentally ill)

*suggests not the behaviour but in fact the label *

Question 12

evaluation of field studies

Answer 12

+ mroe natural and realistic/valid
- though more realistic less controll
- some aregue unethical as no consent

Question 13

what is the comparative method

Answer 13

A thought experiment that does not involve the researcher experimenting on real people at all.
Designed to discover cause and effect relationships

1) Identify two groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for the one variable we are interested in

2) Then compare the two groups to see if this one difference between them has any effect

Question 14

DURKHEIMS SUICIDE STUDY COMPARATIVE METHOD EXAMPLE

Answer 14

Hypothesis - Low levels of integration of individuals into social groups caused high rates of suicide.

• Argued catholicism produces higher levels of integration
  Therefore, predicted Protestants would have a higher suicide rate that catholics
• Tested his prediction by comparing suicide rates of catholics and protestants who were similar in all other aspects of life
• Prediction was supported

Question 15

Evaluation of comparative method - strengths

Answer 15

• Avoids artificiality
• Used to study past events
• Poses no ethical problems

Question 16

Evaluation of comparative methods limitation

Answer 16

• Gives the researcher less control of other variables
• Even less certain whether a thought experiment really has discovered the cause of something.