Lab And Field Experiments

Question 1

Lab experiments

A01

Answer 1

Lab/ controlled experiments are conducted in a well controlled environment, where accurate measurements are possible

• Researcher decided where the experiment will take place, what time, which ppts, what circumstances and using a standardised procedure
• Ppts are randomly allocated to each independent variable group

Question 2

Field experiments

A01

Answer 2

Done in the real life (everyday) environment of participants

-Still manipulate IV but in real life settings

Question 3

Natural experiments

A01

Answer 3

Also conducted in the everyday (real life) environment of ppts but experimenter has no control over IV as it naturally occurs in real life

Question 4

Lab experiments

Evaluation A03 strengths

Answer 4

Strengths
-As the experiment takes place in a lab setting, researchers can manipulate the IV but also control extraneous variables which may influence participants behaviour besides the IV. This allows researchers to establish a cause and effect conclusion, showing high validity

-Lab experiments follow a standardised procedure designed by the experimenter, which allows for replication of the study to test for reliability in results. This is easier in a lab experiment as it would also include details of controls used, meaning comparison is easier and more accurate

Question 5

Lab experiments

Evaluation A03 Weakness

Answer 5

Weaknesses
-Due to the artificial setting, lab experiments lack ecological validity, as participants are expose to an unnatural environment. Therefore, they may not display natural or genuine response which they would in everyday situations. This reduces validity as it suggests participant behaviour is not representative of real life.

-Furthermore, tasks used in lab experiments often aren’t everyday tasks that require the behaviour the experiment is investigating. Therefore, the participant responses are not likely to be reflective of how they use that behaviour in everyday life, showing lab experiments to be low in mundane realism.

Question 6

Field experiments

Evaluation A03 Strengths

Answer 6

Strengths-
-Field experiments take place in a natural setting, therefore the behaviour produced by the participants is considered more reflective of everyday life as it is their genuine response to natural stimuli. This makes the findings more valid

-There is reduced likely of demand characteristics skewing the data as field experiments are often covert. The participants don’t know they’re being studied and therefore wont act unnaturally because of the study or the presence of a experimenter

Question 7

Field experiments

Evaluation A03 Weaknesses

Answer 7

Weaknesses-
-However, because field experiments take place in a natural setting, the researchers have less control over extraneous variables, meaning that validity is limited as other variables could influence the participants behaviour other than the IV.

-The lack of control over situational variables also means that field experiments are more difficult to replicate despite following a standardised procedure. It may be impossible for another researcher to replicate the exact conditions of the original study, meaning that comparison are harder to make and so reliability is limited