Research Methods:

Question 1

What are the 4 types of experimental methods?

Answer 1

• Laboratory
• Field
• Natural
• Quasi

Question 2

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 2

Conducted in a highly controlled environment, where the researcher purposefully manipulates the level of an IV in each of the conditions, in order to measure its effect on the DV.

Question 3

What are the strengths of a Lab experiment?

Answer 3

highly controlled extraneous variables.

can be easily replicated

IV is manipulated so allows cause-effect relationships to be established

Question 4

What are laboratory experiments weaknesses?

Answer 4

1. The high degree of control can lead to artificiality so low ecological validity
2. Both demand characteristics or experimenter bias may affect the results and become confounding variables.

Question 5

What is a field experiment?

Answer 5

There is a clear IV and DV but the research is conducted outside laboratory conditions (in the participants natural environment).

Question 6

Strengths and weaknesses of field experiment?

Answer 6

+ More ecological validity.

• More likely to have extraneous variables

Question 7

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 7

Have a clear IV and DV, but it is either not possible or unethical to deliberately manipulate the IV so must wait for it to occur naturally.

Question 8

Strengths of Natural experiments?

Answer 8

1. High ecological validity
2. Can be used in situations that would have otherwise been impossible due to practical or ethical reasons

Question 9

Natural Experiments Weaknesses?

Answer 9

1. Natural occurring events may be rare so difficult to replicate so less reliable
2. High likelihood of extraneous variables

Question 10

What is a quasi experiment?

Answer 10

• A quasi-experiment is not a ‘true’ experiment because the
  researcher has not deliberately manipulated an IV, and participants
  are not randomly allocated to an experimental or a control
  condition.

Question 11

Strengths of quasi experiment?

Answer 11

Allows research where the IV can’t be manipulated for practical or ethical reasons; a range of behaviours can be investigated.

• Allows researchers to investigate ‘real’ problems, such as the effects of a disaster on health, which can help more people in more situations.

Question 12

weaknesses of quasi experiments?

Answer 12

Cannot demonstrate causal relationships because the IV isn’t manipulated directly so we cannot be sure that the IV caused the DV.

• Threat to internal validity due to there being less control of extraneous variables that could be the reason for the DV rather than the IV

Question 13

General Strengths of Observational Studies?

Answer 13

it can be used with behaviours that do not adapt to lab conditions

• usually have higher ecological validity
• often used as a “starting point” for research

Question 14

General Weaknesses of Observational Studies?

Answer 14

• lack of control over variables (cannot manipulate IV)
• researcher bias when interpreting behaviours
• ethical issues can arise over gaining consent and invasion of privacy
• virtually impossible to replicate

Question 15

What are the types of Observational Techniques

Answer 15

Naturalistic

Controlled

Covert

Overt

Participant

Non-participant