Research Methods : Types of Experiments

Question 1

Lab experiment

Answer 1

• conducted in an artificial environment with a standardised procedure.
• the researcher manipulates the IV to see the effect on the DV with strict controls over EV’s.
• participants know they’re in the study but don’t know what’s being tested for

Question 2

Field experiment

Answer 2

• conducted in a more natural environment - anywhere outside a lab where the investigated behaviour could naturally occur
• the researcher manipulates the IV to see the effect on the DV
• participants are not aware they’re participating in research

Question 3

Natural experiment

Answer 3

• conducted in everyday life of the participant
• IV not controlled (natural)
• where the IV cannot be manipulated due to ethical/ money related reasons

Question 4

Quasi experiment

Answer 4

• conducted in everyday life
• IV based on a natural difference between groups/ conditions
• IV not manipulated, simply exists (due to ethical/ expense reasons)
• not considered a tue experiment as there is no random allocation so results could be biased

Question 5

What’s a standardised procedure?

Answer 5

A consistent and uniform set of instructions and methods used in a research study (allows for repeatability)

Question 6

What’s meant by reliability?

Answer 6

If the test is carried out again, how similar the results would be (the more similar, the more valid)

Question 7

What’s internal validity?

Answer 7

The extent to which a research study accurately identifies a casual relationship between variables, ruling out alternative explanations
→ the relationship between the IV and DV

Question 8

What’s ecological validity?

Answer 8

The extent to which the findings of a study can be generalised to real world settings and situations

Question 9

What’s mundane realism?

Answer 9

The degree to which an experiment or study resembled real life situations and experiences

Question 10

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 10

Cues or hints within a study that may lead participants to guess the researches hypothesis or expected outcomes, potentially influencing their behaviour

Question 11

What’s random allocation?

Answer 11

Assigning participants to different groups or conditions in an experiment in a random and unbiased manner