experiments Flashcards
What is an experiment ?
Where sientists manipulate variables in which they are interested in to see what effectd occur
- this method allows causational relationships to be drawn
Theroretical strengths
- standardised precedure allows for replicability - **reliability **
- detached method / no bias or influence from researcher
Practical strengths
- control of environmental influences
ethical strengths
Ethical issues
- 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
Practical issues
- lack of control
- costly
- requires funding for project and space
theoretical affects validity
What is the hawthorne effect ?
- people acting differently as they are knowing of the aim
- acting up to what they think the researcher would want
MAYO - hawthorne effect study evidence
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
interpretivists view on expriment
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
What is a field study?
- takes place in the subjects natural setting
- those involved not aware
- reseacher manipulates IV
Rosenhan field study example
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 *
evaluation of field studies
+ mroe natural and realistic/valid
- though more realistic less controll
- some aregue unethical as no consent
what is the comparative method
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
DURKHEIMS SUICIDE STUDY COMPARATIVE METHOD EXAMPLE
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
Evaluation of comparative method - strengths
- Avoids artificiality
- Used to study past events
- Poses no ethical problems