types of experiments

Question 1

what are the four types of experiments?

Answer 1

lab
field
natural
quasi

Question 2

what are the two categories to psychological research?

Answer 2

experimental
correlational

Question 3

what is a lab experiment?

Answer 3

conducted in a highly controlled environment

Question 4

what is a field experiment?

Answer 4

conducted in a natural, more every day setting (e.g - field)

Question 5

what is a natural experiment?

Answer 5

when the researcher takes advantage of a pre-existing IV or the researcher has not manipulated the IV directly

Question 6

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 6

when the IV is naturally occurring but has not been made to vary by anyone - its simply a difference between people that exists (e.g - age/gender)

Question 7

what are the pros of lab experiments?

Answer 7

• they’re high in internal validity as the extraneous variables can be controlled - this means that any observed change in the DV is definitely due to the IV

Question 8

what are the cons of lab experiments?

Answer 8

• participants are usually aware that their behaviour is being studied - this can affect their behaviour reducing ‘realness’ (ecological validity)

Question 9

what are the pros of field experiments?

Answer 9

• participants are not aware that their behaviour is being studied meaning they don’t respond to demand characteristics

Question 10

what are the cons of field experiments?

Answer 10

• its more difficult to control extraneous variables
• there is a major ethical issue - if participants don’t know they’re being studied then its difficult to debrief them

Question 11

what are the pros of natural experiments?

Answer 11

• enables psychologists to study ‘real’ problems (increased mundane realism and ecological validity)
• allows research where IV can be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons

Question 12

what are the cons of natural experiments?

Answer 12

> random allocation is not possible so there may be confounding variables which can’t be controlled - a threat to internal validity

Question 13

what are the pros of quasi experiments?

Answer 13

• allows comparisons between types of people

Question 14

what are the cons of quasi experiment?

Answer 14

• participants may be aware they’re being studied which creates demand characteristics and reducing internal validity