Field Experiments

Question 1

What are field experiments in relation to laboratory experiments?

Answer 1

Minus the artificiality.

Question 2

Where are field experiments conducted?

Answer 2

In a much more natural (ordinary) environment.

Question 3

What is the second point abut what a field experiment is?

Like lab…

Answer 3

Like a laboratory experiment, the IV is deliberately manipulated by the researcher and they measure the DV.

Question 4

Are participants aware that they are taking part?

Answer 4

Not usually.

Question 5

What are the two advantages to a field experiment?

Answer 5

1) High ecological validity

Can be generalised beyond the real-life setting.
Higher mundane realism.

2) Lack of demand characteristics

Participants not usually aware they are being studied so will act naturally.

Question 6

What are two disadvantages to field experiments?

Answer 6

1) Low internal Validity

Low control over confounding variables, you cannot be certain that change in DV is due to IV.

2) Less easy to replicate

Lower levels of control over variables,
Harder for results to be tested and compared.