Topic 2 - Experiments

Question 1

Define a Laboratory Experiment

Answer 1

These are experiments that take place in controlled environments and aim to use the scientific method to test a specific hypothesis.

Question 2

Define the Hawthorne Effect

Answer 2

As the participant is aware of the experiment they may behave differently to meet expectations.

Question 3

Give a practical advantage of lab experiments

Answer 3

Easy to attract funding - they hold the prestige of being a science and thus being objective

Question 4

Give an ethical advantage of lab experiments

Answer 4

Informed consent - as they take place in an unnatural setting participants must have given consent

Question 5

Give a theoretical advantage of lab experiments

Answer 5

Reliability - takes place in a controlled environment so can be easily replicated

Question 6

Give a practical disadvantage of lab experiments

Answer 6

Money - in order to carry it out you are required to hire a lab and buy specific lab equipment

Question 7

Give an ethical disadvantage of lab experiments

Answer 7

Ease of deception - as scientists have a form of authority so participants will trust and listen to them

Question 8

Give a theoretical disadvantage of lab experiments

Answer 8

Validity - as the research is focused on collecting statistical data you cannot get a deeper meaning out of the research

Question 9

Define a Field Experiment

Answer 9

A form of research that takes place in a natural environment where participants are generally not aware of the experiment.

Question 10

Give a practical advantage of Field experiments

Answer 10

Money - it is cheaper as the setting used is pre-existing

Question 11

Give an ethical advantage of field experiments

Answer 11

Unintrusive - as it can be done without having participants going out of their ways to be involved

Question 12

Give a theoretical advantage of field experiments

Answer 12

Validity - it is valid as it shows people being most truthful to how they would act in their everyday life

Question 13

Give a practical disadvantage of field experiments

Answer 13

time - it takes a long time for the required outcomes to be observed as people may not interact with the experiment.

Question 14

Give an ethical disadvantage of field experiments

Answer 14

Consent - as participants are not usually aware of the experiment. consent is often mandatory for social research

Question 15

Give a theoretical disadvantage to Field experiments

Answer 15

Reliability - as the data is hard to repeat over and over again due to the uncontrolled nature of field experiments.

Question 16

Define the comparative method

Answer 16

Using secondary data a researcher would compare and observe different data to come to a conclusion on a hypothesis

Question 17

Give a practical advantage of the comparative method

Answer 17

Money - as there is no actual experiment the only cost is that of the statistics used by the researcher

Question 18

give an ethical advantage of the comparative method

Answer 18

No ethical issues as nobody is involved

Question 19

give a theoretical advantage of the comparative method

Answer 19

Reliable - as it is easy to repeat as you can just compare past statistics to those of the current time

Question 20

give a practical disadvantage of the comparative method

Answer 20

Access - some data may be restricted behind a paywall or not public so you cannot see a clear picture.

Question 21

Give an ethical disadvantage of the comparative method

Answer 21

there aren’t any ethical issues

Question 22

Give a theoretical disadvantage of the comparative method

Answer 22

Validity - the statistics and the analysis of those statistics are effected by bias such as in the case of Durkheim.