Lab Experiments Flashcards
What is a Laboratory Experiment?
A highly controlled experiment conducted in an artificial setting where variables are manipulated to establish cause-and-effect relationships
What are the practical strengths of lab experiments?
High Control Over Variables → The artificial setting allows researchers to control extraneous variables, making it easier to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
• Example: In Milgram’s obedience experiment, the controlled conditions ensured that obedience was measured only in response to authority, without external interference.
2. Replicability & Reliability → The ability to repeat the experiment under the same conditions means results can be tested for consistency.
• Example: Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment (1961) on aggression has been replicated many times, confirming the findings on observational learning.
Theoretical strengths of lab experiments?
Favored by Positivists → Positivists prefer lab experiments because they produce objective, scientific data that can be generalized.
2. Hypothesis Testing → Allows sociologists to test specific theories, making findings more rigorous and empirically supported.
• Example: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment tested the hypothesis that roles influence behavior, supporting the idea of situational power dynamics.
3. Predictability & Patterns → Can establish general laws of behavior through repeated testing, making sociology more “scientific.”
Ethical strengths of lab experiments?
Informed Consent → In most cases, participants are aware they are taking part in an experiment and give permission
Some practical limitations of lab experiments?
Expensive & Time-Consuming
• Setting up controlled conditions and ensuring no extraneous variables interfere can be costly and labor-intensive
- Only studies small samples, makes it difficult to study large scale social phenomena, reduces representativeness
How are lab experiments reliable?
The experiments can be repeated and get the same results
The original experimenter can specify precisely what steps were followed in the original experimenter so other researchers can repeat it in the future
What are some ethical issues with lab experiments?
Lack of informed consent may be difficult to obtain from groups such as children who may not fully understand the nature or purpose of the experiment
Deception — Milgram; lied to research participants about the purpose of the research
How can the Hawthorne effect impact experiments?
If people are aware they are being studied they might alter their behaviour and do what they think the researcher wants them to do, this negatively impacts the experiment which depends on the subjects responding to the variables that the researcher introduces into the situation, not the fact they are being observed
