Types of experiment Flashcards
what is a lab experiment?
an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment to control for extraneous variables, where the researcher manipulates the IV
what is a field experiment?
an experiment that takes place in a natural, every day setting, where the researcher manipulates the IV
what is a natural experiment?
similar to a field experiment but the researcher cannot control the independent variable- for either practical or ethical reasons
what is the primary difference between a natural and field experiment?
in a natural experiment, the experiment occurs naturally, the change in the IV would’ve happened whether the researcher had or hadn’t been there
what is a quasi-experiment?
semi-experiment
it isn’t a real experiment and must always be paired with a field, lab or natural experiment.
it is where the IV is already determined, it is an existing difference between people e.g. age.
what is internal validity?
a measure of how well a study’s results represent that any effect on the DV is caused by the manipulation of the IV.
what is generalisability/ external validity?
how far results can be representative of real life
what is mundane realism?
how closely a research study resembles real life e.g. learning a list of words may not be representative of real life activities
what are the strengths of lab experiments?
-high control over extraneous variables
-high internal validity
-replication
what are the limitations of lab experiments?
-lack generalisability
-low external validity
-demand characteristics
-low mundane realism
what are the strengths of field experiments?
-high external validity
-less likely to be demand characteristics
what are the limitations of field experiments?
-lack of control over extraneous variables
-hard to replicate
-ethical issues; people can’t give there consent to a study they do not know they are in.
what are the strengths of a natural experiment?
-more ethical (since the event is happening anyway)
-high external validity
what are the limitations of natural experiments?
-difficult to replicate
-participants not randomly assigned to the experimental conditions
- low control so low internal validity so hard to see if IV has caused the effect on the DV.
what is a limitation of a quasi experiment?
cannot randomly allocate people to experimental conditions therefore extraneous variables may affect outcome
