Experiments - Research Methods Flashcards
What is a Laboratory Experiment?
A research method which measures participants’ performance in two or more conditions. It is a way to determine whether one variable affects another. In a laboratory experiment, the independent variable is manipulated, the dependent variable is measured and all other variables are controlled. It takes place in a controlled environment.
What is an aim?
a general idea of why the study is being done and what the researcher wants to discover
what is a hypothesis?
a precise statement of what result is expected
why are hypotheses not suitable for case studies?
case studies look at detailed information about a person, so a precise statement would not be suitable
What are some strengths of case studies?
can be used in situations that would be unethical or impossible to set up; provide in-depth info about a person - this detail can form new theories and ideas, stimulating research into new areas that wouldn’t have been found unless rare individuals had been studied; data is from real-life so it is more valid; many research methods are used, so it is more likely to be internally valid
What are some weaknesses of case studies?
findings may not be applicable to other people as only 1 person/small group was studied so they lack external validity; they cannot be repeated to check reliability of findings; if a study was repeated, results would be different, so studies are not reliable; researchers may interpret findings differently from others; case studies are generally subjective as the researcher is deeply involved in data collection and analysation
what is triangulation and when is it used?
the practice of using multiple sources of data or multiple approaches to analysing data to enhance the validity of a research study
when are field experiments suitable?
when studying behaviour that must be seen & tested in a natural environment (i.e. conformity, obedience)
what is a natural experiment?
it occurs in a naturalistic environment; has an IV & DV; researchers do not manipulate IV - it occurs naturally; generally opportunist and make use of unique and naturally occurring situations
what are some strengths of field experiments?
Field experiments are conducted in the natural everyday environment of participants, promoting high ecological validity; The experimenter still controls the IV; There is much less risk of demand characteristics as participants may not be aware that they are being studied; higher mundane realism; some control over extraneous variables - still causation between IV & DV
what are some weaknesses of field experiments?
hard to control extraneous variables; difficult to obtain fully informed consent as the experimenter would usually want to preserve the hypothesis in order to avoid demand characteristics; harder to replicate
when are lab experiments useful?
in studying behaviour that wouldn’t be affected by the artificial environment e.g. memory, reaction. also useful in studies that need to isolate IV & DV & exercise control
