Types of experiment

Question 1

What are the four types of experiments?

Answer 1

Laboratory, field, quasi, natural

Question 2

Definition of validity

Answer 2

The research measures what it intends to measure, where the results are factually sound and true.

Question 3

Definition of internal validity

Answer 3

The DV results are due to the IV, rather than other variables

Question 4

Definition of external validity

Answer 4

the extent to which the results of one study can be generalised to people outside of the study

Question 5

Definition of ecological validity

Answer 5

The extent to which the findings in a study can be applied to real-life situations

Question 6

Definition of reliability

Answer 6

Consistency in either the results or mode of measure

Question 7

What is a lab experiment?

Answer 7

The IV is manipulated by researcher where it is conducted by highly controlled environments

Question 8

Strengths of a lab experiment

Answer 8

Higher level of control therefore procedures are more replicable
Reduction in extraneous variables so a consistent pattern of results can be found, rather than relying on a one-off
Gives a clearer idea of how the IV impacts the DV

Question 9

Weaknesses of a lab experiment

Answer 9

Lower ecological validity as they are artificial tasks/ environments so less applicable to real-life settings

Higher risk of demand characteristics being present so can cause a change in behaviour of ppts so internal validity can reduce

Question 10

What is a field experiment?

Answer 10

Where the researcher manipulates the IV which is conducted in a natural setting

Question 11

Strengths of a field experiment

Answer 11

Higher ecological validity as it is set in a more realistic setting/ realistic tasks which can be applied to everyday human behaviour

Reduction of demand characteristics therefore behaviour is more natural, increasing the internal validity

Question 12

Weaknesses of a field experiment

Answer 12

Due to its lower control, procedures are less replicable
Therefore its harder to find a consistent pattern of results under the same conditions
Thus lowering its reliability

Less control, leading to more extraneous variables which gives less of a clear idea of how the IV impacts the DV, lowering internal validity

Question 13

What is a natural experiment?

Answer 13

The researcher takes advantage of the pre-existing independent variable

Question 14

Strengths of a natural experiment

Answer 14

Reduction of demand characteristics due to lower research intervention

Higher ecological validity as they typically study real-life issues as it happens

Question 15

Weaknesses of a natural experiment

Answer 15

There is less control as the researcher doesn’t control the IV

A cause/effect relationship between the IV and DVis more difficult to establish

Question 16

What is a quasi-experiment?

Answer 16

There is an IV bases on a pre-existing participant variable like age or gender

Question 17

Strengths of a quasi-experiment

Answer 17

High control when conducted in lab conditions

Therefore lower extraneous variables, increasing internal validity

Question 18

Weaknesses of a quasi-experiment

Answer 18

Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions so there is a higher risk of confounding variables which lowers internal validity