Types of Experiment

Question 1

laboratory experiment

Answer 1

takes place in controlled environment where all variables are carefully controlled

Question 2

lab: strength

Answer 2

high degree of control
replicability
cause and effect

Question 3

lab: weakness

Answer 3

experimenter bias
low ecological validity

Question 4

field experiment

Answer 4

conducted in a more natural environment (not lab) with all variables being well controlled

Question 5

field: strength

Answer 5

high ecological validity/mundane realism
no demand characteristics

Question 6

field: weakness

Answer 6

ethical issues - no informed consent
loss of control over extraneous variables

Question 7

quasi experiment

Answer 7

experiment where the IV occurs naturally (hasn’t been determined by the researcher) bc it cannot be manipulated by the researcher
e.g. gender

Question 8

quasi: strength

Answer 8

high ecological validity
no demand characteristics

Question 9

quasi: weakness

Answer 9

ethical issues - no informed consent
cannot randomly allocate pps - may be confounding variables, so not cause and effect relationship

Question 10

natural experiment

Answer 10

experiment where IV occurs naturally (hasn’t been determined by the researcher) bc it is unethical to manipulate
e.g. brain damage

Question 11

natural: strength

Answer 11

high ecological validity
no demand characteristics

Question 12

natural: weakness

Answer 12

naturally occurring means may be rare and unlikely to be replicable
less control over extraneous variables, therefore loss of cause and effect