Research Methods: Experimental Methods - Lab Field Natural Quasi - KB Flashcards
Where do Lab experiments take place?
A highly controlled environment
What variable is manipulated in a lab experiment?
Independent variable
Why does the researcher manipulate the independent variable in a lab experiment?
To measure the effect on the dependent variable
One strength of a lab experiment is high levels of control over extraneous variables, why is this?
It is carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in the exam answer)
If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, why is this a strength?
There is high control over extraneous variables
Why are lab experiments high in reliability?
Due to the control, the experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results
If the lab experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results, what does this mean?
It is high in reliability
Why are lab experiments low in ecological validity?
They are carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in an exam)
What type of validity is lowered if a lab experiment lacks ecological validity?
External Validity
If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, what validity is lowered?
Ecological validity
Why is a lab experiment prone to demand characteristics?
The participants may change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher which can help or hinder the researcher, which reduces internal validity
When the participants change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher in a lab experiment, what is meant by this?
Demand characteristics
What type of experiment takes place in a natural environment e.g. an office or a school, but the researcher manipulates the IV?
Field experiment
What is a Field experiment?
An experiment that place in a natural environment such as an office or a school where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the DV
Which experimental method takes place in PPTs natural environment whereby the researcher manipulate the IV and measure the DV?
Field experiment
What type of experimental method was Lorenz’s study?
Field experiment
Why might a field experiment be less prone to demand characteristics?
PPTs might not know they are being watched; therefore they are less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour
Identify a strength of a field experiment
Less prone to demand characteristics
OR
High ecological validity
Why has a field experiment been praised for high internal validity?
PPTs might not know they are being watched, therefore less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour, increasing the internal validity
Field experiments have been praised for high external validity - why is this?
It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings.
Why does a field experiment have high ecological validity?
It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings, increasing the external validity
Why might a field experiment be low in reliability?
As it’s carried out in natural environment, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results
Why might it be difficult to replicate a field experiment?
The environment is natural to the PPTs, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results
Why has a field experiment been criticised for being unethical?
Lack of informed consent as people are unaware of being studied so wouldn’t have given their consent
Other than low in reliability - what other problems are their with a field experiments?
Ethical issues
What is a natural experiment?
Where the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (EVENT)
In what type of experimental method does the researcher take advantage of the naturally occurring IV?
Natural experiment
A researcher measured the stress levels in local residents of a town before an earthquake and following the earthquake
What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m)
Natural experiment
What experimental method was used in Rutter’s study on Romanian orphans?
Natural experiment
Why might natural experiments have high external validity?
They are often based in real life settings and therefore it is easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings
Why do natural experiments contribute to wider psychological understanding of human behaviour?
Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical / ethical reasons
Are natural experiments reliable?
No - Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results
Why are natural experiments unreliable?
Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results
In a natural experiment, researchers have high control over extraneous variables.
TRUE / FALSE
False
Why might researchers have little control over extraneous variables in a field experiment?
As it’s a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV
Why have natural experiments been criticised for lacking internal validity?
As it’s a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV - lowering the internal validity.
Define a quasi experiment
An experiment which has an IV based on an existing individual difference between people (characteristic), which is not manipulated by the researcher
Age / Gender
These are examples of an existing individual difference between people which the researcher has not manipulated.
TRUE / FALSE
True
A researcher compared the heart rate of people with a phobia of a spider to the heart rate of people without a phobia when showed a picture of a spider.
What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m)
Quasi (1m)
Identify a weakness of a quasi experiment
Sample bias - The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity
Why might a quasi experiment suffer from sample bias?
The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity
Why might a quasi experiment be criticised for low external validity?
The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity
