TYPES OF EXPERIMENTS Flashcards
Strengths of lab experiments?
High control over confounding and extraneous variables
Strengths of lab experiments: replication?
Replication is more possible as there is a high level of control
Limitations of lab experiments?
Lack generalisability- lab environment may be artificial
In an unfamiliar environment participants may behave in unusual ways- their behaviour cannot be generalised- low external validity
Limitations of lab experiments: demand characteristics?
Participants are aware they are being tested so they may act in an unusual way
Limitations of lab experiments: mundane realism?
The tasks that participants have to carry out may not represent everyday experience- low mundane realism
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in a natural environment/ more everyday environment
Strengths of field experiments?
Higher mundane realism because the environment is more natural
Field experiments may produce behaviour that is more valid and authentic
Participants may be unaware they are being studied - high external validity
Limitations of field experiments?
Loss of control of confounding variables and extraneous variables
Cause and effect between the IV and DV may be more difficult to establish and replication is not always possible
Ethical issues- if participants are unaware they are being studied, they cannot consent to being studied- invasion of privacy
What is a natural experiment?
Like a lab or field experiment because the researcher measures the effect of an IV on a DV
BUT the experimenter has no control over the IV
Strengths of natural experiments?
Provide opportunities for research that otherwise may not be undertaken for practical/ethical reasons
High external validity- involve the study of real-world issues and problems
Limitations of natural experiments?
Natural events may happen very rarely- reducing the opportunities for research
What is a quasi experiment?
They have an IV that is based on an existing difference between people
The IV has not been manipulated and cannot be changed
Strengths of quasi experiments?
Often carried out under controlled conditions
Limitations of quasi experiments?
Cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions- therefore they may be confounding variables
