Research Methods Y1 - 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 are the strengths of laboratory experiments?
Lab experiments have high control over extraneous variables, ensuring that any effect on the DV is likely due to the manipulation of the IV (high internal validity).
Replication is more possible than in other types of experiments because of the high level of control, ensuring findings are valid and not one-off.
What are the limitations of laboratory experiments?
Lab experiments may lack generalisability, as the artificial environment may result in behaviour that cannot always be generalised beyond the research setting (low external validity).
Participants are usually aware they are being tested, which may lead to unnatural behaviour (demand characteristics).
Tasks participants are asked to carry out may not represent real-life experience (low mundane realism).
What is a field experiment?
An experiment where the IV is manipulated in a natural, more everyday setting (in the field, not necessarily in a lab).
What are the strengths of field experiments?
Field experiments have higher mundane realism than lab experiments because the environment is more natural, thus behaviour is likely to be more valid and authentic.
This type of experiment produces behaviour that is more valid as participants are unaware they are being studied (higher external validity).
What are the limitations of field experiments?
There is a loss of control over extraneous variables, making it more difficult to establish cause and effect.
Ethical issues may arise if participants are unaware they are being studied, as this constitutes an invasion of privacy.
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.
What are the strengths of natural experiments?
Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons.
They have high external validity because they involve the study of real-life issues and problems as they happen.
What are the limitations of natural experiments?
A naturally occurring event may only happen very rarely, reducing opportunities for research and limiting the scope for generalising findings to other similar situations.
Participants may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions (applies when there is an independent groups design), meaning that confounding variables could affect the DV.
What is a quasi-experiment?
A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The IV has not been determined by anyone (e.g., the researcher or any other person) but simply exists, such as being old or young. Strictly speaking, this is not an experiment.
What are the strengths of quasi-experiments?
Quasi-experiments are often carried out under controlled conditions and therefore share the strengths of a lab experiment.
What are the limitations of quasi-experiments?
Participants cannot be randomly allocated to conditions, meaning there may be confounding variables.
