Research Methods Experiments Flashcards
Experiment Categories
Laboratory, Field, Quasi, Naturalistic
Why Laboratory?
Used to investigate the causes of human behavior
Laboratory Circumstances
- Inside a laboratory, and can control as many variables as possible
Laboratory Study
Bandura et al.
Strengths Laboratory
- Maximum Control (isolated from extraneous variables)
- High Internal Validity
- Replicated
- Reliable Results
- Cause and effect relationship
Limitations Laboratory
- Low ecological validity (no generalizations)
- Experimental Bias
- Low External Validity
- Demand Characteristics
Field Experiments Definition
Experiment conducted in a natural setting, but still manipulate the IV
Why Field Experiment
- Allows researchers to study human’s in their natural environment
Circumstance field
Conducted in a natural environment
Strengths of Field
- high ecological validity
- Wide range of variables
- Natural behavior
Limitations field
-Less controlled over variables measured
Naturalistic Experiment
- Uses naturally occurring variables as the IV (not manipulated)
Why Naturalistic
when a defined group of individuals in a population have a defined relation to a variable
- unable to investigate relationship in laboratory setting (ethics)
Naturalistic Circumstance
Natural setting, no lab or artificial settings
Naturalistic Strengths
- Very High external validity
- No demand characteristics
