labratory experiment Flashcards
what is it
experiement conducted in highly controlled environments so accurate and objective measurements are possible
positive: procedure objectivity
controlled standardised procedure so more reliable and controlled environment reduces bias so more objective
negative: artificial
artificial feeling so it may produce unnatural behaviour and does not reflect real life (low ecological validity) so you cannot generalise findings to real life
positive: replication
easier to replicate due to standardised procedure
experiments can be repeated under same conditions which can help verify the consistency and reliability of findings
positive: variables
lab experiment allows for precise control of extraneous and independent variables so it establishes a cause and effect relationship between variables
negative: demand characteristics and experimenter effects
demand characteristics and experimenter effects may bias the results and become confounding variables
negative: limitations
complex behaviours may be difficult to replicate or study adequately in a controlled environment