Experimental method, design & type Flashcards
What is an experiment?
An investigation in which a hypothesis is scientifically tested.
What is an advantage of experiments?
They should be objective. The views and opinions of the researcher should not affect the results of the study. This makes the data more valid and less biased.
What is a laboratory experiment?
An experiment carried out in a controlled environment.
What is strength of lab experiments?
You have more control over extraneous variables. This increases the validity and reliability.
Increases replicability
What is validity?
The likelihood that you’re measuring what you plan to measure
What is reliability?
The likelihood you’re able to replicate the investigation and find consistent results.
What is a weakness of lab experiments?
Humans will not behave naturally within a controlled environment which reduces ecological validity.
What is ecological validity?
The extent to which the findings from a research study can be generalised to other settings/real life.
What is a field experiment?
An experiment carried out in a ‘real-world’ environment.
What is a strength of field experiments?
Humans are more likely to behave naturally which increases ecological validity.
What is a weakness of field experiments?
You’re less likely to be able to control extraneous variables or be able to replicate the investigation exactly in the future. This reduces reliability and internal validity.
What is internal validity?
Whether the results are due to the manipulation of the independent variable and not confounding variables.
What is a natural experiment?
Where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher but would’ve happened even if the researcher had not been there.
eg: changes in religious belief (DV) before and after a pandemic (IV).
What is a quasi experiment?
Where the IV is a naturally occurring trait in an individual and cannot be manipulated.
What is an example of a quasi experiment?
An experiment investigating the differences in language skills between those on the autistic spectrum and those who aren’t.
The IV (being on the autistic spectrum or not) is naturally occurring and therefore participants will be naturally allocated to the different conditions on the basis of this trait.
