Experiment Types A1

Question 1

Define Laboratory Experiements

Answer 1

When an experiment takes place in a highly controlled environment/condition

Question 2

What are the Strengths of Lab Experiments?

Answer 2

• High control over EVs
• High internal validity
• Easily Replicable

Question 3

What are the Limitations of Lab Experiments?

Answer 3

• Low External Validity
• Low Mundane Realism (artificial tasks - also impacts generalisability)
• Demand Characteristics are likely

Question 4

Define Field Experiments

Answer 4

An experiment where the IV is manipulated in a natural setting

Question 5

What are the strengths of Field Experiments?

Answer 5

• High Mundane Realism
• Produce authentic behaviour
• High external vaildity

Question 6

What are the limitations of Field Experiments?

Answer 6

• Lack of control over EVs
• Ethical Issues; consent needs to be ensured
• Replicability

Question 7

Define Natural Experiments

Answer 7

When the IV is pre-existing and would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested

Question 8

What are the strengths of Natural Experiments?

Answer 8

• Provide opportunities that may have not been previously taken due to ethics
• High External Validity

Question 9

What are the limitations of Natural Experiments?

Answer 9

• Generalisability

- Impacts methodology as ppts may not be randomly allocated

Question 10

Give an example of a Natural Experiment

Answer 10

Rutters Romanian-English Adoptee study

Question 11

Define a Quasi Experiment

Answer 11

When the IV is based on an existing difference between ppts - the variable simply exists

e.g. age, gender

Question 12

What are the strengths of Quasi Experiments?

Answer 12

• Often done in controlled conditions

Question 13

What are the limitations of Quasi Experiments?

Answer 13

• Ppts cant be randomly allocated so confounding variables are likely