Research Methods : Types Of Experiments Flashcards
State the 4 types
lab
field
natural
quasi
what is a lab experiment
conducted in highly contorlled environment
what is key point about lab experimetns
not always lab just areas wehre conditions can be well contorlled
Strength 1 of Lab Experiments (HIGH IV)
high control over C/EV
ensure effect on DV due to changing IV
more certain showing Cause and Effect (high IV)
Strength 2 of lab exp (REPLICAITION)
replication more possible here
due to high level of control
ensures new EV not introduced when repeating exp
Why is replication vital in lab exp
check results of study
see whether finding valid & not just one off
Limitation of Lab Experiment (LOW GENERALISABILITY)
lack generalisability
lab enviro artificial and unlike everyday life
in unfamiliar context pt behaviour unusual
so behaviour can’t be generalised beyond research setting
so low EV
Limitation 2 of Lab exp (pt know)
pt know being tested in lab exp (but may not know why)
encourage demand characterstics
results less valid/ cant be sure effect of DV due to manipulating IV
Limitation 3 (mundane realism )
task asked to carry out in lab exp
not rep evday experince
showing loW mundane realsim
Field Experiment
IV manipulated
in
natural more everyday setting ( in field)
where does researcher go in field experiemnts
pt usual environment than in a lab
exp pt going to researchers lab
Strenght of Field Experiments (mundane realism)
higher than LE
as enviro more natural
so FE produce behaviour more valid and authentic
especially as pt may not be aware being studied which indicates a high EV
Limitation of Field Experimetns (C/EV)
Loss of control of C/EV
cause and effect between IV and DV harder to establish
precise replication impossible
Limitaiotn 2 of Field Experiments (ethics)
ethival issues
pt unaware being studied so cannot consent
research might mean invasion of privacy
What is a natural experiment
researcher measures effect of IV on DV
but
no control over IV and cannot change it
how does an IV vary in a natural excperiment
someone or something else causes it to vary
give example of an IV that can;t be changed
whether child in hospoital at age 5 or 10
the IV can be natural but necessarily the * so pt can be *
setting
so pt can be tested ina lab
in a natural experiment whats important about the DV
Can be naturally occuring e.g (Exam results)
or
devised by experimenter then measured in a field/lab
strength 1 of natural experiment (opportunitites for research)
provide opp for research that wouldn’t be done for practical or ethical reasons e.g romanian orphan studies
strenth 2 of natural experimetn (EV
high Ev
involve study of real world issues and problems as they happen e.g effects of volcaono of stress levels
Limitation of E (RARE)
Naturally occuring event happen rarely
reduces opp for research
limit scope for generalising findings to other similar situations
Limitation fo FE (random allocation)
pt amy not be RA to experimental conditions in IGM
less sure whether IV affected DV
Limitation of FE (lab)
research may be conducted in lab
therefore lacks realism
demand characteristics may be an issue
give example of limitation of FE of pt not being randomly allocated in IGD
ROMANIAN O
IV - adopted early/late
adopted late - less sociable
less appealing for prospective patents
Quasi Experiment
IV based on exisiting diffrerence between epople e.g age
unlike in a natural experiment in a quasi the iv
not manipulated by anything simply justs exosts , unlike NE IV can’tbe changed
like in a NE in a QE the DV can be
naturally occuring /devised by exp and measured in a field lab
+ve of quasi experiment (conditions)
controlled conditions
so share strengths of lab experiment like replication
-ve QE (allocation)
like NE can’t randomly allocate pt to conditions therefore may be confounding variables
-ve QE (IV)
both QE and NE
IV not delibaretly changed
so cannot claim IV caused any observed change
