Types of Experiment

Question 1

explain laboratory experiments?

Answer 1

• conducted in highly controlled conditions

- not always in a lab

Question 2

evaluate the strengths of laboratory experiments?

Answer 2

+high control over extraneous variables
+can ensure effect on DV is due to manipulation of IV
+more certain about cause and effect
+standardised instructions= replication to see if findings are valid

Question 3

evaluate the strengths of a field experiment?

Answer 3

• higher realism than lab experiment
• produce more valid behaviour
• pp’s may be unaware they’re being studied= high external validity

Question 4

evaluate the strengths of a natural experiment?

Answer 4

• high external validity as they study real life issues eg. Romanian orphanages study
• allow research to be done that may not have been able to be done due to ethics

Question 5

evaluate the strengths of a quasi-experiment?

Answer 5

High ecological validity – due to the lack of involvement of the researcher; variables are naturally occurring so findings can be easily generalised to other (real life) settings.
+can ensure effect on DV is due to manipulation of IV
+more certain about cause and effect

Question 6

evaluate the weaknesses of laboratory experiments?

Answer 6

• lacks generalisability due to artificial lab environment cannot be generalised to everyday life= low external validity
• pp’s aware they are tested= demand characteristics
• tasks carried out may not represent real life

Question 7

evaluate the weaknesses of a field experiment?

Answer 7

• loss of control over extraneous variables
• cause and effect may be more difficult to establish
• precise replication not always possible
• if pp’s are unaware=ethical issue as they haven’t given consent

Question 8

evaluate the weaknesses of a natural experiment?

Answer 8

• naturally occurring event may happen rarely
• Lack of control – natural experiments have no control over the environment & other extraneous variables which means that the researcher cannot always accurately assess the effects of the I.V,

Question 9

evaluate the weaknesses of a quasi-experiment?

Answer 9

Not replicable – due to the researcher’s lack of control, research procedures cannot be repeated so that the reliability of results cannot be checked.

Question 10

explain a field experiment?

Answer 10

-IV manipulated in a natural, everyday setting

Question 11

explain a natural experiment?

Answer 11

-pre-existing IV (IV will change even if experimenter wasn’t manipulating it)

Question 12

explain a quasi-experiment?

Answer 12

-IV based on existing differences between people eg.age