Types of experiment Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the different types of experiment?

A
  • Laboratory experiment,
  • Field experiment,
  • Natural experiment,
  • Quasi experiment.
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2
Q

What are lab experiments?

A

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

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3
Q

How many different types of experiments are there?

A

4: Lab, Field, Natural, Quasi.

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4
Q

What are field experiments?

A

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

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5
Q

What are natural experiments?

A

An experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would have happened even if had not been there, the researcher records the effect on the DV.

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6
Q

What are quasi experiments?

A

A study in which the IV has not been determined by anyone, the ‘variables’ simply exist, such as age.
(A Quasi experiment is strictly speaking not an experiment.)

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7
Q

Which type of experiment is strictly speaking not an actual experiment?

A

Quasi.

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8
Q

What are the strengths of a lab experiment?

A
  • High control over extraneous variables meaning high internal validity.
  • Possible replication due to high level of control, therefore validity can be testes.
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9
Q

What are the weakness of a lab experiment?

A
  • Lack the ability to generalise due to the artificial settings means low external validity (more specifically ecological validity).
  • Participants are aware they are being tested and as a result may show demand characteristics.
  • The artificial tasks and stimulus are unrepresentative of real-life experience therefore lacks mundane realism.
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10
Q

What are the strengths of a field experiment?

A
  • High mundane realism because the environment is natural, as a result the behaviour is more authentic.
  • High external validity because participants are unaware they are being studied therefore produce natural behaviours.
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11
Q

What are the weakness of a field experiment?

A
  • Low internal validity due to lack of control of extraneous variables.
  • Often hard to replicate as environments are not artificial and will likely not be the exact same again.
  • Ethical issues can arise due to the inability to gain informed consent which could constitute an invasion of privacy.
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12
Q

What are the strengths of a natural experiment?

A
  • Provide opportunities for research that would otherwise be impossible due to practical or ethical reasons.
  • High external validity as they involve real-life occurrences and therefore the responses are genuine.
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13
Q

What are the weakness of a natural experiment?

A
  • Natural events only occur very rarely, meaning there are limited opportunities and little time to plan experiments.
  • Limited scope for generalisation to other similar situations.
  • No random allocation process meaning there could be aspects of who was affected that affect the DV.
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14
Q

What are the strengths of a quasi experiment?

A

(Same as lab experiments):

  • High control over extraneous variables meaning high internal validity.
  • Possible replication due to high level of control, therefore validity can be testes.
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15
Q

What are the weakness of a quasi experiment?

A

Like natural experiments, cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions and therefore there may be confounding variables.

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16
Q

Comment on the validity of lab studies:

A

Lab studies have a high degree of replication available, this means that the study can be tested many times to make sure the results found are consistent and the results are reliable.

17
Q

Comment on the ethical issues presented by field experiments:

A

Due to the setting of the experiment being a daily environment, the participants cannot be aware they are in a study. This is a problem because it means they cannot consent to being studied and such research may constitute an invasion of privacy.

18
Q

Comment on the internal validity of laboratory experiments:

A

Lab experiments have a high internal validity because of the high control over extraneous variables. This means that the researcher can be sure any changes on the DV are due to the manipulation of the IV, we are more certain of the cause and effect relationship.

19
Q

Explain how Rutter’s study of Romanian Orphans could have been affected by the fact there is no random allocation process in natural experiments:

A

There is no random allocation process in natural studies, Rutter found that those adopted earlier had more developed intellectual IQ, however, he ignored the fact that adoption is not random. Those adopted earliest may have had more desirable characteristic which could explain the findings.

20
Q

Which experiment is the IV based upon an existing difference between people?

A

Quasi.

21
Q

Comment on the opportunities presented of natural experiments:

A

Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that otherwise would not be possible for practical or ethical reasons.

22
Q

In a natural experiment, is it the setting, the IV or the DV that is naturally occuring?

A

The IV is naturally occurring.

23
Q

Comment on the internal validity of quasi experiments:

A

Lab experiments have a high internal validity because of the high control over extraneous variables. This means that the researcher can be sure any changes on the DV are due to the manipulation of the IV, we are more certain of the cause and effect relationship.

24
Q

Comment on the mundane realism of a lab study:

A

Lab studies have a low mundane realism, this is because situations in the studies can’t represent real-life experience.

25
Q

Comment on the validity of quasi experiments:

A

Lab studies have a high degree of replication available, this means that the study can be tested many times to make sure the results found are consistent and the results are reliable.

26
Q

Comment on the external validity of a lab study:

A

Lab studies have a low external validity, more specifically ecological validity because the artificial tasks are not like everyday life and the participants may behave differently to real life, the results cannot be generalised.

27
Q

Rutter’s study of Institutionalised Romanian Orphans was an example of which type of experiment?

A

Natural.

28
Q

Comment on the internal validity of field experiments:

A

Field experiments have low internal validity because it is hard to establish a true cause and effect relationship between the IV and the DV. This is due to the loss of extraneous variable control.

29
Q

Comment on the external validity of a quasi study:

A

Quasi studies have a low external validity, more specifically ecological validity because the artificial tasks are not like everyday life and the participants may behave differently to real life, the results cannot be generalised.

30
Q

Comment on the external validity of field experiments:

A

Field experiments have high external validity because participants are unaware they are being studied therefore will not change or adapt any of their behaviours to fit the investigation.

31
Q

Which two types of experiment share the same strengths?

A

Quasi and Laboratory.

32
Q

Comment on the mundane realism of a quasi study:

A

Quasi studies have a low mundane realism, this is because situations in the studies can’t represent real-life experience.

33
Q

Comment on the external validity of a field study:

A

Field studies have high external validity, this is because they involve the study of real-life occurrences and the effects are natural.

34
Q

The Stanford Prison Experiment is an example of which study?

A

Laboratory study.

35
Q

Hofling, 1966 (obedience in nurses) is an example of which study?

A

Field study.