Experimental Methods

Question 1

what is a lab experiment?

Answer 1

when all the variables in the experiment are controlled. participants are aware they are in an experiment.IV is manipulated and DV is measured.

Question 2

what is a field experiment?

Answer 2

it is when the the experimenter takes advantage of a natural space, such as a field. The IV is deliberately manipulated. Participants sometimes know they are in experiment.

Question 3

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 3

The IV can not be manipulated as it is already set ( people are already born with it)

Question 4

what is a natural experiment?

Answer 4

Is when the experimenter takes advantage of the situation. The IV cannot be manipulated. Participants do not know they are in a experiment

Question 5

what does ecological validity mean?

Answer 5

a measure of how a study can be predict behaviour in a real-life the real world

Question 6

if study can be repeated many times and achieve the same results each time this means its…

Answer 6

reliable

Question 7

can you name the four strengths of a lab experiment ?

Answer 7

• there is a high degree of control
• it is replicate therefore is high in reliability
• chnage in the DV must be due to the IV
  -Isolation of variables - rigorous testing of aspects of behaviour

Question 8

what is the four weakness of a lab experiment?

Answer 8

• lacks external ecological validity, this is because it is artificial and unreal life setting
• experimenter bias, the experimenter may sway the experiment to get the results that they want
  -lacks mundane realism, tasks the ppts do may not be an everyday task
• demand characteristics -ppts may act unnaturally

Question 9

what are the two strengths of a field/natural experiment?

Answer 9

• high ecological validity as ppts are in a more natural setting
• no demand characteristics as ppts are not usually unaware they are in the experiment

Question 10

what are the four weakness of a field/natural experiment?

Answer 10

• less control of extraneous variables
• replication difficult to complete as variables can not be controlled
• ethics, some ppts may not have given informed consent
• sample bias, may not be representative to target population/wider population