Experiments

Question 1

What is a lab experiment

Answer 1

Variables are tightly controlled in a lab

Question 2

What is a field experiment

Answer 2

In a natural environment where people are not aware they are participating

Question 3

What is a natural experiment

Answer 3

Independent variable is naturally occurring- no set up
Eg a government policy or natural disaster

Question 4

What is a quasi experiment

Answer 4

Inderpendant variable exists already
Eg- age or gender

Question 5

Strength of lab experiments

Answer 5

High levels of reliability due to control of extraneous variables and a standardised procedure
Hugh internal validity

Question 6

What is a weakness of lab experiments

Answer 6

Low levels of ecological validity
Behaviour may not be representative due to being in an artificial environment

Question 7

Strength of field experiments

Answer 7

High ecological validity due to natural environment- reflective of the real world

Question 8

Weakness of field experiment

Answer 8

Potentially less reliable as no control of extraneous variables
Ethical issues- lack of consent

Question 9

What is external validity

Answer 9

Extent to which research findings can be generalised beyond research; to other settings

Question 10

Strength of natural experiments

Answer 10

Unique opportunity to study factors that aren’t usually studied
Increase mundane realism and ecological validity

Question 11

Weakness of natural experiments

Answer 11

Can’t demonstrate cause and effect
Harder to control extraneous variables

Question 12

Strength of quasi experiments

Answer 12

Allows for comparisons between groups

Question 13

Weakness of quasi experiments

Answer 13

Participants aware they are being studied- reducing internal validity

Question 14

What is mundane realism

Answer 14

Whether a study and tasks within it mimics the real world

Question 15

What is ecological validity

Answer 15

Extent to which findings can be generalised from a study to real life everyday situations

Question 16

What is population validity

Answer 16

Extent to which findings can be generalised to reflect the wider population

Question 17

What is tempural/ historical validity

Answer 17

Assess how well findings hold true over a period of time