lab and field experiments and comparative method

Question 1

what experiment do interpretivists and positivists prefer

Answer 1

Positivist- lab- quantitative
interpretivist- field- qualitative

Question 2

compare the data produced by lab and field experiments

Answer 2

field- qualitative- deeper meaning enables an empathetic approach to research

Lab- quantitative- numerical values, scientific approach, identifies cause and effect relationships

Question 3

what two groups are used in a lab experiments to get a cause and effect relationship

Answer 3

control- keeps conditions constant and records observations

experimental group- varies conditions and records observations

They then compare results and get a cause and effect relationship.

Question 4

Out of field and lab, which experiment is more reliable

Answer 4

Lab because its detached and standardised. Allowing another researcher to repeat steps precisely

Question 5

what are the practical problems of lab experiments

Answer 5

-only study small groups
-places of study interest can be large, many variables can affect research. Making it hard to conduct precisely

Question 6

what is lab experiment aritificality

Answer 6

Lab experiments are artificial due to the fake setting or use of fake subjects

Question 7

what is the difference between broad focus and narrow focus

Answer 7

Broad focus- field experiments can focus on many variables or study wider processes e.g. labelling

Narrow focus- focuses on a small detail e.g body language.

Question 8

what are ethical problems with lab experiments in schools

Answer 8

vulnerable subjects- students
psychological problems can arise
lack of informed consent

Question 9

which experiment is more representative

Answer 9

field- studies large groups of people

Question 10

which experiment is more cheap

Answer 10

field is more cheap than lab

Question 11

which experiment has a higher validity

Answer 11

field- as its in a natural environment therefore subjects will act as they would in real life

Question 12

A negative to a field experiment is that they can be time consuming to conduct in schools. Why is this

Answer 12

DBS checks, child protection laws, gate keepers, headteachers dont want researchers in their school

Question 13

why are field experiments unreliable

Answer 13

becuase it is hard for other researchers to reproduce the experiment with identical variables and subjects

Question 14

summarise all negatives to a field experiment

Answer 14

-unethical- researchers decieve respondents for validity

-time consuming in schools

-hard to control all variables

-unreliable

Question 15

What is the milgram study of obedience (lab experiment)

Answer 15

Milgram lied to his participants and said it is a learning test and ordered the participants to falsely electrocute them… However, the research was to study peoples willingness to obeying orders

Question 16

What is the domestic abuse in lift experiment (field)

Answer 16

the experiment was to test how people would react to what was “domestic abuse”.
a hidden camera recorded only 1 person out of 53 tried to stop it

Question 17

what is the comparative method

Answer 17

researcher identifies two groups of people which are alike however share one different variable.

then compare the two groups and sees if the difference between them has any effect.