Types Of Experiments

Question 1

What is an experiment?

Answer 1

change in IV and measure effect this has on DV

Question 2

What are the different types of experiments?

Answer 2

Lab, field, natural, quasi

Question 3

Description of a lab experiment

Answer 3

-highly controlled artificial environment
-variables carefully controlled
-IV deliberately manipulated
-Participants aware of experiment

Question 4

Description of a field experiment

Answer 4

-in more natural setting
-IV deliberately manipulated
-participants not usually aware they are being studied

Question 5

Description of a natural experiment

Answer 5

-when experiment unethical or impractical to manipulate IV
-IV not manipulated, DV can be measured in lab
-change in IV caused by smth natural

Question 6

Description of a quasi experiment

Answer 6

-IV naturally occurring can’t be manipulated(gender)
-DV still measured

Question 7

Strengths of a lab experiment

Answer 7

-high internal validity bc extraneous variables can be controlled
-can be confident changes in DV caused by IV

Question 8

Strengths of a lab experiment

Answer 8

-high internal validity bc extraneous variables can be controlled
-can be confident changes in DV caused by IV

Question 9

Strengths of a field experiment

Answer 9

-participants not likely to be aware behaviour being studied-no demand characteristics
-takes place in more natural environment-relaxed

Question 10

Strengths of natural experiment

Answer 10

-IV can’t be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons
-enables study of “real” problems

Question 11

Strengths of quasi experiment

Answer 11

Allows comparisons between types of people

Question 12

Weaknesses of lab experiments

Answer 12

-aware behaviour being studied
-IV/DV operationalised in way doesn’t represent everyday experience
-low ecological validity

Question 13

Weaknesses of lab experiments

Answer 13

-aware behaviour being studied
-IV/DV operationalised in way doesn’t represent everyday experience
-low ecological validity

Question 14

Weaknesses of field experiment

Answer 14

-IV may lack mundane realism- not necessarily more like everyday life
-more different to control EV
-ethical issues

Question 15

Weaknesses of natural experiment

Answer 15

-can’t demonstrate casual relationships bc IV not directly manipulated
-random allocation not possible many CV threat to internal validity
-can only be used conditions vary naturally

Question 16

Weakness of quasi experiments

Answer 16

-participants aware of being studied, demand characteristics bad internal validity
-dependent variable may be fairly artificial task, reducing mundane realism