Research methods - experiments Flashcards
What are the 4 experimental methods?
Laboratory experiment
Field experiment
Natural experiment
Quasi experiment
What is a laboratory experiment?
The IV is manipulated in a controlled environment.
What is a field experiment?
The IV is still manipulated but it is carried out in the real life place.
What is a natural experiment?
An experiment where the difference in IV would have happened even if the researcher had not been there.
What is a quasi experiment?
The IV is not manipulated, it is something that the person just is and cannot be manipulated or changed by the experimenter.
What are the strengths of a laboratory experiment?
Can show cause and effect
Creates accurate measurements due to the control
Can be replicated really easily
What are the weaknesses of a laboratory experiment?
Low similarity to real-life situations
Tasks are artificial
Aware being studied due to the artificial setting (may act differently)
Total control of all variables is never possible.
What are the strengths of a field experiment?
High similarity to real life
Can show cause and effect because the IV is manipulated
Participants may be unaware and won’t act differently
What are the weaknesses of a field experiment?
Less control over extraneous variables
Participants don’t always know they’re taking part - unethical
Harder to replicate as the environment is not controlled
What are the strengths of a natural experiment?
Ethical - IV is not manipulated
Practical
More applicable to real life (naturally occurring IV)
What are the weaknesses of a natural experiment?
Can’t show cause and effect because researcher has not manipulated the IV
Less control over extraneous variables
A desired event may only happen rarely, making opportunities for research less common
What are the strengths of a quasi experiment?
Ethical
Practical
More applicable to real life (naturally occurring IV)
Experimental tasks often carried out in controlled environments so some studies will share some strengths of lab experiments
What are the weaknesses of a quasi experiment?
Can’t show cause and effect because researcher has not manipulated the IV
Less control over extraneous variables
It may be difficult to find participants that have the correct IV required
What are the 3 distinctions of observations?
Naturalistic/controlled
Overt/covert
Participant/non-participant
