Research methods : Types Of Experiment Flashcards
What is a laboratory experiment ?
An experiment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV. Whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables
What is a field experiment ?
An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect of the DV
What is a natural experiment ?
An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if the researcher had not been there. The researcher records the effect on the dv
Quasi experiment
a study that is almost an experiment but the IV has not been determined by anyone. The variables simply exist such as being old or young .
Which experiment has highest control over IV ?
Lab experiment
Which experiment has lowest level of control over IV
Natural
Which experiment has middle level of control over IV
Field experiment
Which experiment has the lowest ecological validity
Lab experiment
Which experiment has the highest level of ecological validity
natural experiment
Which experiment strikes a balance between control of the IV and having ecological validity
Field experiment
In what two experiments is the IV controlled and manipulated by the researcher ?
Lab and field experiment
In what two experiments is the IV not controlled and manipulated by the researcher
Natural and quasi experiment
In what experiment is the IV controlled
Lab experiment
In what two experiments is the environment not controlled
Field and natural
Internal validity of lab experiment
High internal validity due to high control over extraneous variables
External validity
Low external validity as environment is artificial . Results cannot be generalised as task may not represent real life
Ethical issues of lab experiment
No ethical issues as partcipants generally know they are taking part
Reliability of types of experiment ( replication ) ?
Yes high control over variables allows replication to occur especially to check results
Demand characteristics of lab experiment
Yes because participants know they are in a study they may guess the aim and change their behaviour leading to results not being as valid
Internal validity of field experiment
Low control so low internal validity as increased risk of extraneous variables due to lower control
External validity of field experiment
Higher level of validity as setting is more natural and takes is more representative of population
Are there ethical issues in field experiments ?
Yes as participants are often unaware they are taking part in research
Reliability of field experiment ?
Envirmoment is less controlled
Cannot be easily replicated
Demand characteristics of field experiment
Participants don’t know that they are taking part so act in a natural way
Internal validity of natural experiments ?
Increased risk of extraneous variables due to lower levels of control and no random allocation
External validity of natural experiment
High as setting is natural soo results can be generalised as it is would have happened anyway
Ethical issues of natural experiment
No as the events would of happened anyway and researchers just making use of them happening
Reliability of natural experiment
It is a one off occasion so can’t be replicated
Demand characteristics of natural experiment
Participants are responding to something researchers have no control over
Internal validity of quasi experiment
Carried out in lab conditions so high control over extraneous variables
External validity of quasi experiment
Environment artificial so results can’t be easily generalised beyond the setting and doesn’t represent real life experiences
Ethical issues of quasi experiment
Partcipants know that they are in a study
Reliability of quasi experiment
High level of control allows replication to occur to check accuracy of results
Demand of characteristics quasi experiment
Participants know that they are being tested so there is a chance of them guessing the aim and changing behaviour
