Types Of Experiment

Question 1

Laboratory experiment

Answer 1

An environment that takes place in a controlled environment within which the researches manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV, whilst maintaining strict control of extraneous variables.

Question 2

Strengths - lab experiments

Answer 2

• High control over confounding and extraneous variables.
• Replication is more possible than in other types of experiment because of the high level of control.

Question 3

Limitations - lab experiments

Answer 3

• May lack generalisability. The lab environment may be rather artificial not like everyday life.
• Low external validity
• Demand characteristics as participants are usually aware they are being tested in lab experiments.
• May not represent everyday experience due to the tasks participants are asked to carry out. (Low mundane realism)

Question 4

Field experiment

Answer 4

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV.

Question 5

Strength - field experiments

Answer 5

• Higher mundane realism
• High external validity

Question 6

Limitations - field experiments

Answer 6

• lack control of CVs and EVs.
• If participants are unaware they are being studied they cannot consent to being studied and such research might constitute an invasion of privacy.

Question 7

Natural experiment

Answer 7

An 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. The searcher records the effect on a DV they have decided on.

Question 8

Strengths - natural experiments

Answer 8

• High external validity because they involve because they involve the study of real-world issues and problems as they happen

Question 9

Limitations - natural experiments

Answer 9

• Participants may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions

Question 10

Quasi-experiment

Answer 10

A study that is almost an experiment but lacks key ingredients. The IV has not been determined by anyone - the variables simply exist, such as being old or young. Strictly speaking this is not an experiment.

Question 11

Strengths - quasi-experiments

Answer 11

• Often carried out under controlled conditions and therefore share some strengths of a lab experiment

Question 12

Limitations - quasi-experiments

Answer 12

• Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables
• Cannot claim that the IV has caused any observed change.