Research Methods- Experiments

Question 1

Who are experiments used by?

Answer 1

Natural scientists

Question 2

How does an experiment start?

Answer 2

With a hypothesis

Question 3

What happens to the variables in an experiment?

Answer 3

Change the IV and observe effects on DV

Question 4

What happens with the results in experiments?

Answer 4

They are converted into numbers and scientist looks for patterns and cause-and-effect relationships

Question 5

When are lab experiments carried out?

Answer 5

In a controlled environment

Question 6

When are field experiments carried out?

Answer 6

In real social settings

Question 7

What are strengths of lab experiments?

Answer 7

• Researcher has control
• Get quantitative data
• Replicable

Question 8

What are limitations of lab experiments?

Answer 8

• Artificial situation
• Difficult to isolate single variables
• Can be moral and ethical issues
• Demand characteristics

Question 9

What are strengths of field experiments?

Answer 9

• More like real life

- Show hidden meanings

Question 10

What are limitations of field experiments?

Answer 10

• Can’t control variables

- Ethical issues

Question 11

How can demand characteristics affect experiments?

Answer 11

Hawthorne effect- may try to please researcher