Types Of Experiment Flashcards
Laboratory experiment
-One conducted in a controlled, artificial environment, where the IV is manipulated and the researcher observes the effect on the DV
Field experiment
-One conducted in an everyday real life setting (E.g a shopping centre or in the individuals home). The IV is manipulated and the researcher observes the effect on DV
Natural experiment
-Researchers has not changed the IV but instead it has occurred ‘naturally’. The researcher doesn’t measure its effect on the DV
Quasi experiment
-Conducted when the IV is based on existing differences between between people. (Can be manipulated by the researcher, e.g IQ, gender, race)
Strengths of a lab experiment
-Extraneous variables and confounding variables can be controlled- cause and effect can be established- high internal validity
-Can be more easily replicated- findings can be confirmed, supporting their validity
-More scientific and objective
Limitations of a lab experiment
-Lacks generalisability to real world contexts- low external validity
-Demand characteristics- can affect the DV, taking away the credibility of the findings
Strengths of a field experiment
-More generalisable- high external validity- conducted in everyday setting
-No demand characteristics- participants unaware that they are being studied- more credibility to findings
Limitations of a field experiment
-Ethical issue- Participants sometimes unaware they are involved- informed consent not given
-Low internal validity- more difficult to control extraneous variables and confounding variables in a everyday setting- makes it difficult to establish cause and effect
Strengths of a natural experiment
-More ethical in some cases- may be the only way to research topics E.G Hodges and Tizards attachment research comparing the long term development of children who had been adopted, fostered or returned home
-Higher external validity- the IVs have occurred natural- more applicable to real world situations
Limitations of a natural experiment
-Particpants are not randomly allocated to conditions- Participants variables may have affected findings -low internal validity
-The events of. Natural experiment are quite rare and are often one offs- this limits their ability to generalise findings to similar situations
Strengths of a quasi experiment
-High control of extraneous and confounding variables- carried out under controlled conditions- allows results to be replicated more easily
-Allows for comparisons to be made between different people- E.G people that have autism and those who don’t- findings can be more generalisable to different groups of peopel
Limitations of quasi experiments
-Participants are not randomly allocated- confounding variables may affect the DV
-Researcher does it manipulate the IV- difficult to establish cause and effect
