experiments

Question 1

why is an experiment regarded as the preferred method of scientific enquiry by scientists

Answer 1

it is highly controlled

Question 2

what are the features of a true experiment

Answer 2

iv, dv, control and random allocation of participants to experimental conditions

Question 3

what is a lab experiment

Answer 3

an experiment conducted in a highly controlled environment, providing high levels of precision and using specialised equipment

Question 4

what are the advantages of lab experiments

Answer 4

controlled, replicable

Question 5

what are the disadvantages of lab experiments

Answer 5

low ecological validity, demand characteristics, low mundane realism

Question 6

what is a field experiment

Answer 6

an experiment conducted in normal social situations in an attempt to improve realism

Question 7

what are the advantages of field experiments

Answer 7

higher mundane realism, reduced demand characteristics

Question 8

what are the disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 8

lack of control over extraneous variables (so iv and dv may be more difficult to establish and replication may not be possible), ethical issues

Question 9

what is mundane realism

Answer 9

when participants act normally, similarly to how they would in everyday life

Question 10

what is an example of a lab experiment

Answer 10

gilchrist and nestburg who deprived participants of food and water for four hours and showed them pictures of food. these participants rated the pictures of food as brighter than the control group who had not been deprived of food

Question 11

what is an example of a field experiment

Answer 11

clarke-steward et al who studied 150 children and found that those in day care were more sociable than those who stayed at home with their mothers

Question 12

what is a natural experiment

Answer 12

the study of naturally occuring events

Question 13

what is an example of a natural experiment

Answer 13

williams studied the change in the levels of agression of 6-11 year old children in a canadian town before and after the introduction to cable television

Question 14

what are the advantages of natural experiments

Answer 14

realism, reduced demand characteristics

Question 15

what are the disadvantages of natural experiments

Answer 15

not generalisable, not replicable, participants aren’t randomly allocated experimental conditions, lack of control over variable

Question 16

what is a quasi experiment

Answer 16

an experiment in which the iv exists already within the participant

Question 17

what is an example of a quasi experiment

Answer 17

baron-cohen et al asked children with autism, down syndrome and neurotypical children to arrange comic strip stories into the correct sequence. it was found that children with autism perfomed significantly worse when it came to ordering the strip

Question 18

what are the advantages of quasi experiments

Answer 18

control, it is easy to establish cause and effect relationships

Question 19

what are the disadvantages of quasi experiments

Answer 19

participants are not randomly allocated experimental conditions, demand characteristics