experiments Flashcards
1
Q
What is a lab experiment?
A
Take place in an artificial controlled environment such as a lab
2
Q
Strengths of lab experiments
A
- High validity and reliability
- Control over variables
- Scientific
- Objective
- Easy to attract funding
3
Q
Weaknesses of lab experiments
A
- Lack external validity - not natural - don’t reflect real life
- Hawthorne effect - maybe aware they’re in an experiment
- Limited application - only small scale interaction can be studied
4
Q
What are field experiments?
A
Take place in a real world context such as a school or hospital
5
Q
Strengths of field experiments
A
- Less artificial - set in real world situations
- Validity - people are unaware of the experimental situation and are in usual social environment
6
Q
Weaknesses of field experiments
A
- Less control over variables - don’t meet scientific criteria
- Ethical problems - don’t usually gain consent
7
Q
What is the comparative method?
A
Comparing and analysing lots of data
8
Q
Strengths of comparative method
A
- Quick and cheap, easily accessible
- Ethical - no participants
- Used to establish correlations between variables
9
Q
Weaknesses of comparative method
A
- Difficulty of operationalising
