Research Methods

Question 1

What is the difference between an experimental method and an experimental design?

Answer 1

Method = Where it takes place + manipulation of the IV and it’s effect on the DV

Design = How it takes place = how participants are allocated to the conditions

Question 2

What are the three features of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 2

1) Controlled environment
2) Researcher has complete control over IV and DV
3) Participants are randomly allocated to conditions

Question 3

What are the three features of a field experiment?

Answer 3

1) Natural environment
2) Set up - Doesnt happen naturally
3) Researcher has control over IV

Question 4

What are the two differences between a field and laboratory experiment?

Answer 4

1) In field, EVs cannot be controlled
2) Laboratory experiments can be replicated more easily

Question 5

What are two features of a natural experiment?

Answer 5

1) IV is natural
2) Environment is natural

Question 6

How do natural and field experiments differ?

Answer 6

Natural - natural IV
Field - Researcher has complete control over the IV

Question 7

What are the two features of a Quasi experiment?

Answer 7

1) IV is a feature of the participants
2) Researcher is not able to randomly allocate participants to different conditions of the experiment

Question 8

How does a quasi experiment differ from a field experiment?

Answer 8

Field - researcher has complete control over IV
Quasi - IV is a feature of the participant

Question 9

What are the two strengths of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 9

1) Easy to replicate
2) High cause and effect

Question 10

What are the two limitations of a laboratory experiment?

Answer 10

1) High demand characteristics
2) Poor ecological validity

Question 11

What are the two strengths of a field experiment?

Answer 11

1) High ecological validity
2) Fewer demand characteristics

Question 12

What are the three weaknesses of a field experiment?

Answer 12

1) Lots of EVs - lower cause and effect
2) Difficult to replicate exactly
3) Ethical implications

Question 13

What are the two strengths of a natural experiment?

Answer 13

1) High ecological validity
2) Allows us to investigate areas that are impossible experimentally due to ethical issues

Question 14

What are the three weaknesses of natural experiments?

Answer 14

1) Lots of EVs - lower cause and effect
2) Difficult to replicate exactly
3) Might have to wait a long time for the IV to occur naturally

Question 15

What is the strength of a Quasi experiment?

Answer 15

1) Offers us a solution to research areas that might be difficult for ethical or practical reasons

Question 16

What is the weakness of a Quasi experiment?

Answer 16

1) Lots of EVs - lower cause and effect