Types of Experiment Flashcards
1
Q
What are four types of experiments?
A
- Laboratory
- Field
- Natural
- Quasi
2
Q
What is a laboratory experiment?
A
- Controlled environment
- Extraneous and confounding variable regulated
- Participants go to researchers
- IV manipulated
- DV recorded
3
Q
What do experiments allow us to do?
A
-Study causation (cause and effect)
4
Q
What are the 3 key features of a true experiment?
A
- Manipulation of an independent variable (IV)
- Randomisation of participants to conditions
- Control of extraneous variables
5
Q
Strengths of Laboratory Experiment:
A
Extraneous/confounding variables controlled = high internal validity
-Easily replicated = standardised
6
Q
Limitations of Laboratory Experiment:
A
- Lack generalisabilty = artificial setting
- Low external validity (ecological validity + mundane realism)
- Demand characteristics
- Investigator effect
7
Q
What is a field experiment?
A
- Natural environment
- Research goes to participant
- IV manipulated
- DV recorded
8
Q
Strengths of Field Experiment:
A
- More natural environment = high ecological validity
- Reduced demand characteristics
- Causation
9
Q
Limitations of Field Experiment:
A
- Less control of extraneous variables = difficult to repeat
- Ethical concerns = informed consent
- More time consuming
10
Q
What is a natural experiment?
A
- No manipulation of IV
- DV may be naturally occurring or measured by experimenter
11
Q
Strengths of Natural Experiment:
A
- Only ethical option
- High ecological validity
12
Q
Limitations of Natural Experiment:
A
- Confounding variable = participants already in conditions
- NOT randomly allocated
- Difficult to replicate (may be one-off)
13
Q
What is a quasi experiment?
A
- Pre-existing difference people
- Naturally or measured DV
14
Q
Strengths of a Quasi-Experiment:
A
- High control = increase confidence of causation
- Comparison between different types of people
- Useful where it would be unethical to manipulate IV
15
Q
Limitations of a Quasi-Experiment:
A
- Not randomly allocated = participant variables
- Difficult to replicate
- Causal relationship not demonstrated
