1
Q
practical strengths (1)
A
can identify cause and effect relationships of sufficient variables are identified
BUT: not usually used by sociologists
2
Q
practical issues (4)
A
- individuals are complex - no two humans are identical
- open system: society is a complex open system - cant identify or control
- cant study past: cant control variables that were acting in the past
- small samples: cant study large scale social phenomena lowering representativeness running risk of chance correlations not representative
3
Q
ethical strengths
A
NONE
4
Q
ethical issues (2)
A
- informed consent: by getting informed consent the experiment is ruined - influence. MILGRAM: gained consent but lied about true nature. participants where deceived but had to be
- harm to subjects: ZIMBARDO: prison experiment: guards started to psychologically torture prisoners, had to holt experiment. MILGRAM: subjects placed under conditions led to mental anguish
5
Q
theoretical strengths (3)
A
positivists = reliable:
1. original experimenter: can control environment, specify precise steps so others can easily repeat
2. produces quantitative data: results of ‘re run experiments’ can easily be compared to original one
3. detached and objective: researcher manipulates variables and controls results, their feelings and values wont influence conduct and outcome
6
Q
theoretical disadvantages (5)
A
- Hawthorne effect: if they know they are being experimented may change behaviour and may second guess researcher and act in socially desirable way#
- lacks validity: findings are artificial as in non natural setting
- lacks representativeness: can only conduct on small samples - cant make generalisations
- interpretivism and free will: cant control all aspects of a human. humans are influenced by external variables which may influence behaviour inside a lab
- experimenter effect: consciously/unconsciously influence subjects and may therefore produce result that they expect
7
Q
introduction
A
- mirroring methods of natural science
- cause and effect is tested by isolating variables and controlling environment of the lab
- replicable - high levels of reliability
- favoured by positivists: quantitative data is produced - can look for correlations between variables
