Lab, field, natural and quasi experiments

Question 1

Lab experiment defintion

Answer 1

experiment conducted under highly controlled conditions, researcher creates the environment

Question 2

Lab experiment evaluation

Answer 2

+
easier to replicate because a standardised procedure is used
control of extraneous and independent variables
-
artificiality of the setting may produce unnatural behaviour (low ecological validity) therefore can’t generalise findings to real-life
demand characterises of experimenter may affect the results and become confounding variables

Question 3

Field experiment definition

Answer 3

done in real-life environment but the experimenter still manipulates the iv

Question 4

Field experiment evaluation

Answer 4

+
likely to reflect real life (high ecological validity)
less likely to be demand characteristics affecting results as the study will usually be covert
-
there is less control over extraneous variables which makes it difficult for study to be replicated

Question 5

Natural experiment definition

Answer 5

conducted in real-life setting but here the experimenter has no control over the iv as it occurs naturally in real life

Question 6

Natural experiment evaluation

Answer 6

+
high ecological validity
less likely for there to be demand characteristics