Experiments

Question 1

What are experiments and the two main types

Answer 1

• where the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect this has in order to discover cause and effect relationships
• high degree of control over variables
• laboratory (artificial) and field experiments (natural)

Question 2

What are the advantages of lab experiments?

Answer 2

• control of variables: Researchers can manipulate the independent variable and control extraneous ones (e.g., in a study on peer pressure, researchers can stage a group setting and control all variables). This precision helps isolate cause and effect.
• Replication: Because conditions are standardised, other researchers can repeat the experiment, which increases reliability.
• Data collection is efficient: Data is often quantitative (e.g., reaction times, behavior counts), which is quicker to analyse
• High reliability: Favoured by Positivists like Émile Durkheim, who believe sociology should be scientific and objective.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of lab experiments?

Answer 3

• artificial setting: People may act differently in labs (Hawthorne Effect), lowering validity.
• Limited scope: Hard to study large-scale social processes (e.g., class inequality) in a lab setting > society more complex
• can’t study the past
• Time-consuming and costly: Especially with complex human behaviors.
• Deception may be used: Like in Milgram’s obedience study – participants believed they were harming someone.
• Psychological harm: Even if unintended, distress or embarrassment can occur.
• Power imbalance: Researcher has full control; participants may feel pressured.
• Low validity: Behavior may not reflect real-life situations – criticized by Interpretivists
• Ignores meaning and context in social interactions, reducing insight into subjective experiences

Question 4

What are the advantages of field experiments?

Answer 4

• Natural setting: People behave more normally because they are unaware and are in their usual social environment increasing validity
• Can be used to study real-world issues (e.g., racism, gender bias) in context.
  > Example: Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study on teacher expectations and the self-fulfilling prophecy in schools.
• if interventions help (e.g., extra support for struggling students), there’s a social benefit.
• Favoured by Interpretivists who value in-depth understanding of social action and meaning.
• Allows study of social context and how it affects behavior.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of field experiments?

Answer 5

• Less control over variables: Makes it hard to isolate cause and effect.
• Replication is difficult: Lower reliability than lab experiments.
• Informed consent often not obtained: If participants don’t know they’re being studied, they can’t consent.

Question 6

What is the comparative method?

Answer 6

• a thought experiment that involves identifying two groups that are the same except for one characteristic e.g. religion
• Durkheim compared suicide rates