research methods - types of experiments.

Question 1

What is meant by “laboratory experiment”?

Answer 1

Type of experiment that occurs in a controlled environment where the researcher can manipulate the IV and measure the effect on the DV done through the control of extraneous variables.

Question 2

What is meant by “field experiment”?

Answer 2

Type of experiment that occurs in a natural setting where the IV can be manipulated and the effect on the DV can be measured.

Question 3

What is meant by “natural experiment”?

Answer 3

Type of experiment where the researcher has no control of the IV and cannot change it.

Question 4

What is meant by “quasi experiment”?

Answer 4

Type of experiment where the IV is based on pre-existing difference between people such as age, gender, etc therefore cannot be manipulated or changed.

Question 5

What is meant by “internal validity”?

Answer 5

Whether the effects observed in study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not some other factor.

Question 6

What is meant by “external validity”?

Answer 6

Extent that research can be generalised beyond the results to other situations or people.

Question 7

What is meant by “mundane realism”?

Answer 7

Describes the degree to which the materials and procedures involved in an experiment are similar to events that occurs in the real world.

Question 8

What is meant by “cause and effect relationship”?

Answer 8

Relationship in which one event (the cause) makes another event happen (the effect).

Question 9

What are the types of experiments?

Answer 9

• laboratory.
• field.
• natural.
• quasi.

Question 10

What are the strengths of laboratory experiments?

Answer 10

• high control over EVs and CVs therefore able to measure the sole effect of the IV on the DV
  ↳ establish cause and effect relationship.
  ➝ high internal validity.
• easy to replicate due to standardised procedures and high control
  ↳ establishes reliability.

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of laboratory experiments?

Answer 11

• lack generalisability as it occurs in a controlled environment and not a realistic one
  ↳ low external validity.
• does not reflect day-to-day life
  ↳ low mundane realism.
• participants are aware they are being tested therefore may try to figure out the aim of the experiment
  ↳ increase in demand characteristics.

Question 12

What are the strengths of natural experiments?

Answer 12

• opportunities for research that may not be conducted otherwise for practical/ethical reasons.
• allows study of real-life issues and problems
  ↳ high external validity.

Question 13

What are the weaknesses of natural experiments?

Answer 13

• events happen rarely reducing opportunity for research.
• not possible to randomly allocate participants to different conditions (independent groups).

Question 14

What are the strengths of field experiments?

Answer 14

• high mundane realism as environment reflects everyday life
  ↳ high external validity.
• unaware they are being studied
  ↳ reduces demand characteristics.

Question 15

What are the weaknesses of field experiments?

Answer 15

• lack of control over EVs and CVs
  ↳ more difficult to establish cause and effect.
  ➝ difficult to replicate.
• ethical issues as participants are unaware they are part of the study therefore have not provided consent.

Question 16

What are the strengths of quasi experiments?

Answer 16

• carried in controlled environments therefore able to measure sole effect of IV on the DV
  ↳ establish cause and effect relationship.
  ➝ high internal validity.
• easily replicable due to standardised procedures and high control
  ↳ establishes reliability.

Question 17

What is a weakness of quasi experiments?

Answer 17

• confounding variables can be an issue as participants are not randomly allocated to either condition.