types of experiment Flashcards
where are lab experiments conducted?
in highly controlled environments/artificial settings
true or false?
lab experiments are always conducted in a lab
false
why may having a highly controlled environment be a weakness? (lab)
may lack generalisability due to the artificial setting - participants could act unusually in an unfamiliar context
why is replication more possible in a highly controlled environment? (lab)
there is high control, which ensures that new extraneous variables aren’t introduced when repeating experiments
name another strength of lab experiments
there is high control over extraneous variables - researcher can ensure that any effect on DV is likely to be the result of manipulation of the IV, not EVs
why may lab experiments have low mundane realism?
experiment tasks may not represent real-life experience
name another weakness of lab experiments
participants are usually aware they’re being tested - may give rise to unnatural behaviour
what happens in a field experiment?
IV is manipulated in a natural, more everyday setting
give an example of a natural setting (field)
school/home
name a strength of field experiments
there is higher mundane realism than lab experiments, because the environment is more natural - participants may be unaware that they’re being studied, therefore behaviour produced may be more authentic + valid
why can field experiments produce more valid behaviour?
participants may be unaware that they’re being studied
name 2 weaknesses of field experiments
ethical issues - participants may be unaware they’re being studied, therefore cannot give consent
increased realism may lead to loss of control of extraneous variables - cause + effect between IV + DV may be more difficult to establish + precise replication often isn’t possible
what is a natural experiment?
researcher takes advantage of a pre-exisiting, natural IV
true or false?
the IV is natural, not the setting (natural)
true
name 2 strengths of natural experiments
participants may not know they’re being studied, therefore behaviour is more natural
less artificial than lab experiments
why do natural experiments often have high external validity?
they involve the study of real-life issues as they happen
name 2 weaknesses of natural experiments
naturally-occurring event may happen rarely, reducing opportunities for research - may also limit scope for generalising findings to other similar situations
deception is often used, making informed consent more difficult
true or false?
in a natural experiment, the variable would’ve changed even if the experimenter wasn’t interested
true
what do quasi experiments have?
an IV that is based on an existing difference between people (e.g. age/gender)
true or false?
the IV has been manipulated in a quasi experiment
false - no one has manipulated the IV, it just simply exists
name 2 strengths of quasi experiments
often carried out under controlled conditions
often less artificial than lab studies, therefore more likely to be able to generalise results to real life
name 2 weaknesses of quasi experiments
can’t randomly allocate participants to conditions, therefore confounding variables may arise
can be hard to establish cause + effect because IV isn’t being directly manipulated
