Types of Experiment Flashcards
What are the four types of experiments?
Lab
Natural
Field
Quasi
What is a lab experiment?
An experiment conducted in a highly controlled environment
What is a field experiment?
An experiment carried out in a natural environment. The IV is still manipulated but it is done in an environment which is typical to the behaviour being studied
What is a natural experiment?
Also carried out in a natural environment however the IV is not directly manipulated. Instead the IV is naturally occurring
What is a Quasi experiment?
Have an IV that is based on an existing difference between people for instance age or gender. No one has manipulated the variable it simply exists
Strengths and weaknesses of lab experiment
Stengths
Easily replicated
High control over extraneous and confounding variables ( more certain of cause and effect)
Weaknesses
Lack generalisability
artificial not real life
low external validity
Lacks mundane realism
ademand characteristics as they know they are being watched
Strengths and weakness of field experiments
Strengths
higher mundane realism
High external validity
Weakness
Harder to control confounding and extraneous variables
Ethical issues no consent
Strengths and weaknesses of natural experiment
Strength
Provides opportunity for research that normally cant be done for ethical or practical issues
High external validity as its real world
Weaknesses
Events happen rarely
Unsure cause and effect
May be done in a lab so lacks mundane realism
Strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiment
Strength
often cardied out in controlled settings so can be replicated
Weakness
Iv not deliberately changed so cant claim IV caused observed change