types of experiment Flashcards
lab experiment
an experiment that takes place in a special environment whereby different variables can be controlled
lab strength
high degree of control
- control all variables, IV can be replicated leading to greater accuracy
replication
- researchers can repeat experiments and check results
lab limitations
experimenter’s bias
- bias can affect results and participants may be influenced by these expectations
low ecological validity
- high degree of control makes the situation artificial unlike real life
field experiment
an experiment conducted in a more natural environment, not in a lab but with variables still being well controlled
field strengths
naturalistic
- more natural behaviours so high ecological validity
field limitations
ethical considerations
- invasion of privacy and likely to have been no informed consent
loss of control
- extraneous variables so precise replication may not be possible
quasi experiment
an experiment whereby the IV has not been determined by the researcher, instead it naturally exists
eg gender difference studies
quasi strengths
controlled conditions
- so replicable, likely to have high internal validity
quasi limitation
cannot randomly allocate participants
- may be confounding variables presented - harder to conclude that the IV caused the DV
natural experiment
an experiment in which the IV is not brought about by the researcher - would have happened even if the researcher had not been studying there
eg studying reactions to earthquakes
natural strengths
provides opportunities for research that would otherwise been impossible due to practical or ethnical reasons
high external validity
- dealing with real life issues
natural limitations
natural occurring events
- may be rare this means these experiments are not likely to be replicated hence hard to generalise findings
difficult to randomise
- confounding and extraneous variables become a problem
