Natiral Experiments

Question 0

Give an example of an unforeseen event that makes a natural experiment

Answer 0

The effect of widespread witnessing of violent crime

Question 1

What happens in a natural experiment?

Answer 1

The researcher makes use of the naturally occurring differences in the independent variable. This means the researcher doesn’t control the IV

Question 2

Name a study that used natural experiments in the case of a crisis

Answer 2

Berkowitz 1970 used the assassination of president Kennedy which was broadcasted as a way of seeing if watching crime made people more violent

Question 3

What were the results of berkowitz study?

Answer 3

There was s rise in violence after the assassination

Question 4

What are the two advantages on natural experiments?

Answer 4

Reduction of demand characteristics and lack of direct intervention

Question 5

Expand on the “reduction of demand characteristics”

Answer 5

Participants are less aware that they are in an experiment so demand characteristics are avoided

Question 6

Expand on “lack of direct intervention”

Answer 6

The experimenter does not intervene

Question 7

Even if the researcher doesn’t intervene with results can they still change the results? How

Answer 7

Yes the researchers mere presence may cause a difference in the results

Question 8

What are the two disadvantages of natural experiment

Answer 8

Lack of control and likelihood of the desired behaviour being displayed

Question 9

Expand on “lack of control”

Answer 9

This lack of control comes from the lack of control in the IV. There is also a greater chance of confounding variables affecting the results. It is therefore difficult to be sure of a cause-and-effect relationship

Question 10

Expand on “likelihood of desired behaviour being displayed”

Answer 10

The situation has to occur naturally so there are only a few opportunities to research. The situation that the researcher wants many be rare and it will take a long time to wait for it to occur naturally