Natural and quasi-experiments Flashcards
When are natural experiments conducted?
When it is not possible or ethical to deliberately manipulate an IV.
Natural experiment
A research method where the researcher has not directly manipulated the IV. Therefore causal conclusions can not exactly be drawn from the experiments.
Quasi-experiment
Studies that are ‘almost experiments’.The IV does not vary, but is a condition that exists.
What is the definition of Quasi-
being partly or almost.
What is causal interference?
“Is a process which has been reasoned out and concluded as to the most likely cause.”
What is natural in a natural experiment?
The IV
Were could the DV be measured in a quasi and field experiment??
In the lab
Why can’t researchers draw cause-and-effect conclusions from natural and quasi experiments?
The lack of control of the IV means that we can not say for certain that any change in the DV was caused by the IV.
It is not possible for random allocation so there may be biases in different groups of participants.
The participants all have unique characteristics so it is hard to generalise the findings to other groups of people
What are the strengths of a natural experiment?
Allows research to be conducted were the IV can’t be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons.
Allows psychologists to research “real problems”
What are the limitations to a natural experiment?
Unable to demonstrate casual relationships
Because random allocation is not possible there may be confounding variables that can not be controlled; this is a threat to internal validity.
Can only be used were conditions vary naturaly
What are the strengths of a quasi-experiment?
Allows comparisons between types of people.
What are the limitations of a quasi-experiment?
Participants may become aware that they being studied; this lowers internal validity.
The DV may be artificial which would reduce ecological validity.
When might you use a quasi-experiment?
To investigate relationships between an IV and DV in a situation where the IV is a characteristic of the person.
