Research Methods: Experimental Methods - Lab Field Natural Quasi - KB COPY Flashcards

1
Q

Where do Lab experiments take place?

A

A highly controlled environment

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2
Q

What variable is manipulated in a lab experiment?

A

Independent variable

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3
Q

Why does the researcher manipulate the independent variable in a lab experiment?

A

To measure the effect on the dependent variable

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4
Q

One strength of a lab experiment is high levels of control over extraneous variables, why is this?

A

It is carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in the exam answer)

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5
Q

If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, why is this a strength?

A

There is high control over extraneous variables

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6
Q

Why are lab experiments high in reliability?

A

Due to the control, the experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results

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7
Q

If the lab experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results, what does this mean?

A

It is high in reliability

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8
Q

Why are lab experiments low in ecological validity?

A

They are carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in an exam)

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9
Q

What type of validity is lowered if a lab experiment lacks ecological validity?

A

External Validity

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10
Q

If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, what validity is lowered?

A

Ecological validity

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11
Q

Why is a lab experiment prone to demand characteristics?

A

The participants may change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher which can help or hinder the researcher, which reduces internal validity

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12
Q

When the participants change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher in a lab experiment, what is meant by this?

A

Demand characteristics

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13
Q

What type of experiment takes place in a natural environment e.g. an office or a school, but the researcher manipulates the IV?

A

Field experiment

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14
Q

What is a Field experiment?

A

An experiment that place in a natural environment such as an office or a school where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the DV

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15
Q

Which experimental method takes place in PPTs natural environment whereby the researcher manipulate the IV and measure the DV?

A

Field experiment

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16
Q

What type of experimental method was Lorenz’s study?

A

Field experiment

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17
Q

Why might a field experiment be less prone to demand characteristics?

A

PPTs might not know they are being watched; therefore they are less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour

18
Q

Identify a strength of a field experiment

A

Less prone to demand characteristics

OR

High ecological validity

19
Q

Why has a field experiment been praised for high internal validity?

A

PPTs might not know they are being watched, therefore less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour, increasing the internal validity

20
Q

Field experiments have been praised for high external validity - why is this?

A

It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings.

21
Q

Why does a field experiment have high ecological validity?

A

It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings, increasing the external validity

22
Q

Why might a field experiment be low in reliability?

A

As it’s carried out in natural environment, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results

23
Q

Why might it be difficult to replicate a field experiment?

A

The environment is natural to the PPTs, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results

24
Q

Why has a field experiment been criticised for being unethical?

A

Lack of informed consent as people are unaware of being studied so wouldn’t have given their consent

25
Q

Other than low in reliability - what other problems are their with a field experiments?

A

Ethical issues

26
Q

What is a natural experiment?

A

Where the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (EVENT)

27
Q

In what type of experimental method does the researcher take advantage of the naturally occurring IV?

A

Natural experiment

28
Q

A researcher measured the stress levels in local residents of a town before an earthquake and following the earthquake

What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m)

A

Natural experiment

29
Q

What experimental method was used in Rutter’s study on Romanian orphans?

A

Natural experiment

30
Q

Why might natural experiments have high external validity?

A

They are often based in real life settings and therefore it is easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings

31
Q

Why do natural experiments contribute to wider psychological understanding of human behaviour?

A

Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical / ethical reasons

32
Q

Are natural experiments reliable?

A

No - Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results

33
Q

Why are natural experiments unreliable?

A

Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results

34
Q

In a natural experiment, researchers have high control over extraneous variables.

TRUE / FALSE

A

False

35
Q

Why might researchers have little control over extraneous variables in a field experiment?

A

As it’s a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV

36
Q

Why have natural experiments been criticised for lacking internal validity?

A

As it’s a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV - lowering the internal validity.

37
Q

Define a quasi experiment

A

An experiment which has an IV based on an existing individual difference between people (characteristic), which is not manipulated by the researcher

38
Q

Age / Gender

These are examples of an existing individual difference between people which the researcher has not manipulated.

TRUE / FALSE

A

True

39
Q

A researcher compared the heart rate of people with a phobia of a spider to the heart rate of people without a phobia when showed a picture of a spider.

What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m)

A

Quasi (1m)

40
Q

Identify a weakness of a quasi experiment

A

Sample bias - The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity

41
Q

Why might a quasi experiment suffer from sample bias?

A

The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity

42
Q

Why might a quasi experiment be criticised for low external validity?

A

The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity