Types of Experiment

Question 1

Laboratory experiment

Answer 1

An experiment that takes place in a **controlled environment **(e.g. classroom) within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneuous variables.

Question 2

Strengths: Lab

Answer 2

• High control over confounding + extraneuous variables -> researcher can ensure any effect on the DV is likely to be resulf of IV = high external validity
  * Replication more possible than others due to high lvls of control = ensures new extraneuous variables are not introduced when repeating. To see whether the findings are valid - not just a one-off

Question 3

Limitations: Lab

Answer 3

• Lack generalisability: lab environment artificial + not like everyday life = pps may behave in unsual ways so behavior cannot always be generalised beyond research setting (low external validity)
• Pps usually aware it is a lab experiment = ‘unnatural’ behavior (demand characteristics)
• Tasks carried out in lab may not represent everyday experience (low mundane realism)

Question 4

Field experiments

Answer 4

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting (everyday setting) within which the researcher manipulates the IV + records the effect on the DV

Question 5

Strengths: Field

Answer 5

• Higher mundane realism = environment more natural -> produce behavior that is more valid + authentic
• Pps may be unaware they are being studied (high external validity)

Question 6

Limitations: Field

Answer 6

* Loss of control of confounding + extraneuous variables = cause + effect between IV and DV more difficult to establish + precise replication often not possible
* Ethical issues - Pps unaware being studied = no consent so **invasion of privacy **

Question 7

Natural Experiments

Answer 7

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. Researcher records the effects on a DV they decided on
* Researcher has no control over IV + cannot change it - the **IV is natural **(not necessarily the setting)

Question 8

Strengths: Natural

Answer 8

• provide opportunities - for research that would have otherwise been impossible due to **ethical or practical reasons **
• High external validity - involve the study of real-world issues and problems

Question 9

Limitations: Natural

Answer 9

• Naturally occuring events - happens rarely reducing opportunities for research + hard to replicate so hard to generalise findings
• Difficult to randomise - pps are not randomly allocated to experimental conditions (only in independent groups design), **unsure whether the IV affected the DV **(CVs and EVs)

Question 10

Quasi Experiment

Answer 10

• Experiment whereby the** IV has not been determined by the researcher**, instead it **naturally exists **
• e.g. being old/young or gender difference studies
• Strictly speaking this is not an experiment

Question 11

Strengths: Quasi

Answer 11

• Controlled conditions - replicable + likely to have high internal validity

Question 12

Limitations: Quasi

Answer 12

• Cannot randomly allocate pps to conditions - may be confounding variables present = harder to conclude that the IV caused the DV