Experiments LT5

Question 1

Lab experiment

Answer 1

researcher manipulates an independent variable and measures a dependent variable in a controlled environment.

Question 2

What are the Practical advantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 2

Researcher does not have to wait for the event to naturally occur but can produce to stimulus

Question 3

What are the Ethical advantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 3

. lab reduces harm
. Consent can be gained prior to participation

Question 4

What are the Theoretical advantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 4

. Allows control over cofounding variables
. standardised = easy retest

Question 5

What are the Practical disadvantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 5

Society doesn’t lend itself to be studied in a lab

Question 6

What are the Ethical disadvantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 6

Ethics regarding consent, harm and deception, not fully informed consent

Question 7

What are the Theoretical disadvantages of lab experiments ?

Answer 7

. Low validity, lab doesn’t reflect real life (Hawthorne effect)
. Not representative, usually small sample

Question 8

What is the key study for lab experiment ?

Question 9

Field experiment

Answer 9

Researcher manipulates an independent variable in a dependent variable in a natural environment

Question 10

What are the Practical advantages of field experiments ?

Answer 10

. participants less likely to be effected by the Hawthorne effect

Question 11

What are the Ethical advantages of field experiments ?

Answer 11

Less likely to experience a power imbalance as they feel more control in own environment

Question 12

What are the Theoretical advantages of field experiments ?

Answer 12

. More valid than lab due to being done in the real world
. High reliability, method is standardised and easy to repeat

Question 13

What are the Practical disadvantages of field experiments ?

Answer 13

May need to offer a financial incentive to participants

Question 14

What are the Ethical disadvantages of field experiments ?

Answer 14

ethical problems such as deception, protection from harm and informed consent

Question 15

What are the Theoretical disadvantages of field experiments ?

Answer 15

There is less control over the variables

Question 16

What is the key study for field experiment ?

Question 17

Comparative method

Answer 17

It is a ‘though experiment’ which does not involve experimenting on real people but making comparisons between individuals groups etc

Question 18

What are the Practical advantages of comparative method ?

Answer 18

it can study past events like lab experiments

Question 19

What are the Ethical advantages of comparative method ?

Answer 19

Poses no ethical problems

Question 20

What are the Theoretical advantages of comparative method ?

Answer 20

Avoids creating artificial research situations

Question 21

What are the Practical disadvantages of comparative method ?

Answer 21

Difficult to make comparisons between countries as data may be collected in different ways

Question 22

What are the Ethical disadvantages of comparative method ?

Answer 22

socially sensitive issues can potentially create misleading perceptions

Question 23

What are the Theoretical disadvantages of comparative method ?

Answer 23

Lack of control over variables, cant be sure of cause and effect

Question 24

What is the key study for comparative methods ?