types of experiments

Question 1

types of experiments

Answer 1

laboratory, field, natural and quasi

Question 2

what is a laboratory experiment?

Answer 2

controlled artificial environment

Question 3

advantages of lab experiments

Answer 3

• controlled environment

Question 4

disadvantages of lab experiments

Answer 4

• artificial environment - low mundane realism

Question 5

what is a field experiment?

Answer 5

take place outside of the lab, in a natural environment but the basic scientific procedures are still followed as far as possible

Question 6

advantages of field experiments

Answer 6

• less artificial than a lab but still an experiment - higher mundane realism
• represents reality
• can be completed in natural environments
• avoids participant effects (if they are not aware of the study) therefore it should produce behaviour which is more natural and valid less demand characteristics

Question 7

disadvantages of field experiments

Answer 7

• extraneous variables less easy to control therefore less able to show cause and effect
• ethical issues - participants unlikely to know they are being studied

Question 8

natural or quasi experiments

Answer 8

• Effects of the IV on the DV can be observed by the experimenter.
• Strictly speaking an experiment involves the deliberate manipulation of an IV by an experimenter, therefore natural and quasi experiments are not ‘true experiments‘
• Cause-and effect conclusions cannot be made with the same certainty as in lab experiments.

Question 9

what is a natural experiment?

Answer 9

• Natural environment
• Independent variable not manipulated taking advantage of a naturally occurring event.

Question 10

advantages of natural experiment

Answer 10

• High in ecological validity (represents real life experiences)provides opportunities for research which otherwise may not be available.
• Enables psychologists to study ‘real’ problems
• Objective research method – little interference from researcher
• Few ethical issues

Question 11

disadvantages of natural experiment

Answer 11

• A naturally occurring event may happen very rarely which limits the opportunity to investigate this also limits generalisability
• Many extraneous variables which are a threat to ‘cause – effect’ conclusion
• Participants are not randomly allocated to conditions which may mean that there is some bias in the sample.

Question 12

what is a quasi experiment?

Answer 12

• In quasi experiments the IV is a naturally existing characteristic between people and has not been changed by anyone or anything.
• Gender, eye colour, ethnicity, IQ etc….

Question 13

advantages of quasi experiment

Answer 13

• Useful when it’s unethical to manipulate the IV
• Studies the ‘real effects’ so there is increased realism and ecological validity

Question 14

disadvantages of quasi experiment

Answer 14

• Confounding environmental variables are more likely= less reliable
• Must wait for the IV to occur
• Can only be used where conditions vary naturally
• Aware they’re studied= less internal validity

Question 15

examples of quasi experiment

Answer 15

Milgram and Grifiths (1994)
Baron Cohen (1997)

Question 16

what subdivisions are included in experimental methods?

Answer 16

aims, hypotheses, IV and DV, levels of the IV, operationalisation