types of experiments

Question 1

What is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 1

An experiment conducted in a special enviroment where variable can be carefully controlled.

Question 2

What is a field experiment?

Answer 2

An experiment conducted in a more natural enviroment i.e. in ‘the field’.

Question 3

What are strengths of Laboratory experiements?
A

Answer 3

• Usually high in internal validty because extraneous variables can be controlled.

Question 4

What are limitations of Laboratory experiements?

Answer 4

• Participants usually are aware that their behaviour is being studied. Leading to particpants searching for cues about the aims of the experiments and affect behaviour reducing realness

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- The IV and DV may be operationalised in such a way that it doesn’t represent everyday experiences, i.e low in mundance realism.

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Low ecological validty can also be explained in terms of setting. Participants may feel uncomfortable in an unknown and artifical enviroment. Causes change in usual behaviour.

Question 5

What are strengths of Field experiments?

Answer 5

• Participants are not likely to be aware that their behvaiour is being studied
  


• A field experiment takes places in a more natural setting (e.g a classroom), particpants are more relaxed.

Question 6

What are limitations of Field experiments?

Answer 6

• ## It is more difficult to control extraneous variables.

There is a major ethical issue

Question 7

What is a Natural Experiment?

Answer 7

An experiment conducted when it is not possible, for ethical or practical reasons, to deliberately manipulate an IV.

Question 8

What are the strengths of Natural experiments?

Answer 8

• Allows research where IV can’t be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons.
  


• Enables researchers to study ‘real’ problems such as the effect of a disaster on health (increased mundane realism and ecological validty).

Question 9

What are limitations of Natural experiments?

Answer 9

• Cannot demomstrate casual relationships because IV not directly manipulated
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- Can only be used where conditions vary naturally.


• Participants may be aware of being studied, creating demand characteristics and reducing internal validity.
  

- The DV may be a fairly artficial task, reducing mundane realism.

Question 10

What is strength of Quasi-experiments?

Answer 10

Allows comparisons between types of people

Question 11

What are limitations of Quasi-experiments?

Answer 11

• Participants may be aware of being studied, creating demand characteristics and reducing internal validty
  

- The DV may be a fairly artificial task, reducing mundane realism.