Experimental Methods Flashcards by Aster Pasta Gray

What is a lab experiment?

Highly controlled environment where the researcher manipulated the IV and measures the effect in the DV.

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A lab experiment is conducted in what type of environment?

Highly controlled

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Lab experiment have high control over what?

Extraneous variables

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Why do lab experiments have a high control over extraneous variables?

It’s carried out in a fake/artificial environment, therefore cause and effect can be established between the IV and the DV which increases the internal validity.

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Lab experiment have a high control over…. Because it’s carried out in a….environment, therefore… and …. can be established between the … and the …. which … the internal validity.

Extraneous variables
Artificial / fake
Cause
Effect
IV
DV
Increases

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What are two strengths of a lab experiment?

High control over extraneous variables
High in reliability

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Why are lab experiments high in reliability?

Can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results.

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Lab experiments are high in … because they can be easily …. in the …. conditions to check for …… results.

Reliability
Repeated
Same
Consistent

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What are two limitations of a lab experiment?

Lacks ecological validity
Prone to demand characteristics

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Why do lab experiments lack ecological validity?

As it’s carried out in an artificial environment therefore it’s difficult to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study lowering the external validity.

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Lab experiments lack … as it’s carried out in an ….. environment therefore it’s difficult to …… the findings beyond the setting of the study lowering the ….. validity.

Ecological validity
Artificial
Generalise
External

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Why are lab experiments prone to demand characteristics?

Ppts change their natural behavior based on clues given off by the researcher this could lead to ppts choosing to either help or hinder the researcher reducing the internal validity

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What are lab experiments prone to?

Demand characteristics

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Lab experiments are prone to…. As Ppts change their …. behavior based on …. given off by the ….. this could lead to ppts choosing to either …. or ….. the researcher ….. the ….. validity

Demand characteristics
Natural
Clues
Researcher
Help
Hinder
Reducing
Internal

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What is a field experiment?

Takes place in a natural environment (for the ppts) where the researcher manipulates the IV and measure the effect on the DV

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Where does a field experiment take place?

Natural environment

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Give two strengths of a field experiment.

Less prone to demand characteristics
High ecological validity

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Why is a field experiment less prone to demand characteristics?

Ppl might not know they’re being watched so they’re less likely to guess clues given off by the researcher and change their natural behavior, therefore increasing the internal validity.

A field experiment is less ….. as Ppl might ….they’re being watched so they’re ….. likely to guess …. given off by the …… and ….. their natural behavior, therefore …… the internal validity.

Prone to demand characteristics
Not know
Less
Clues
Researcher
Change
Increasing

Why are field experiments high in ecological validity?

Based on a real life setting therefore it’s easier to generalise findings beyond the setting of the study to other settings increasing the external validity

Field experiments are high in ….because it’s Based on a ….setting therefore it’s easier to ….. findings beyond the setting of the study to … increasing the …. validity

Ecological validity
Real life setting
Generalise
Other similar settings
External

Give two limitations or a field experiment

Low in reliability
Ethical issues - lack of informed consent

Why are field experiments low in reliability?

Conducted in natural environment so it’s difficult to repeat with exactly same conditions to check for consistent results

Field experiments are low in …Conducted in … environment so it’s difficult to …. with exactly … conditions to check for …. results

Reliability
Natural
Repeat
The same
Consistent

Why do field experiments create ethical issues?

Lack of informed consent as ppl may not be aware they’re being studied so wouldn’t have given theirs consent. If they become aware they may become upset and wish to withdraw their data from research.

What ethical issue do field experiments cause?

Lack of informed consent

Field experiments could create an … of Lack of …. as ppl may not be aware they’re being studied so wouldn’t have given ….. If they become aware they may become …. and wish to …. their … from research.

Ethical issue Informed consent Their consent upset withdraw Data

What is a natural experiment?

Researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (event). This is a natural environment because the variable would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested.

What environment is a natural experiment conducted in?

Natural

What are two strengths of a natural environment?

Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical issues High in ecological validity

How do natural experiments provide opportunities for research?

Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical issues. For example, Rutters study on Romanian orphans would’ve been unethical to manipulate unless the institutionalisation (IV) had not occurred naturally. Therefore natural experiments contribute to a greater understanding of behavior.

What example can we use when explaining why natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise happen due to practical or ethical issues?

Rutter’s study on Romanian orphans It would’ve been unethical to manipulate unless the institutionalisation had not occurred naturally

Why are natural experiments high in ecological validity?

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

Natural experiments are high in ….. as they’re Often based in a ….. setting therefore easier to …… findings beyond the setting of the study to other … settings increasing the …. validity

Ecological validity Real life Generalise Similar External

Give two limitations to natural experiments

Natural events may happen rarely - so hard to check if reliable Low control over extraneous variables

Why are natural experiments limited by them happening rarely?

Happens rarely which limits opportunities for research this means it’s unlikely that the research can be repeated to check for consistent results so lacks reliable

Natural experiments are naturally occurring events that’s may only happen ….. which limits …… for research this means it’s ….. that the research can be …… to check for ….. results so lacks ….

Rarely Opportunities Unlikely Repeated Consistent Reliability

Why do natural experiments have low control over extraneous variables?

Natural experiments usually take place in a natural environment. Therefore it’s difficult to establish cause and effect between the IV and the DV lowering the internal validity.

Natural experiments have ….as Natural experiments usually take place in a …. environment. Therefore it’s difficult to establish …. and …. between the …. and the … lowering the …. validity.

Low control over extraneous variables Natural Cause Effect IV DV Internal

What’s a quasi experiment?

An experiment which has an IV based on existing individual difference between ppl which the researcher has not manipulated (age ,gender,OCD,autism) and the researcher measures the effect on the DV

Strength of quasi experiments….

Quasi can be conducted in a natural or field or lab - select corresponding limitations

What is a limitation of quasi experiment?

Sample bias

Why is sample bias a limitation of quasi experiments?

The sample being studied have unique characteristics (e.g OCD) which may mean it’s difficult to generalise to the target population decreasing the external validity.

Quasi experiments are limited by …. bias as The sample being studied have ….. (e.g OCD) which may mean it’s difficult to …. to the ….. population decreasing the …… validity.

Sample Unique characteristics Generalise Target External