Experiments

Question 1

What is an experiment ?

Answer 1

A research situation where the researcher has a high degree of control

Question 2

What is a lab experiment ?

Answer 2

Hypotheses are tested under a controlled , ‘created’ environment , focusing on independent and dependent variables

Question 3

What are the strengths of lab experiments ?

Answer 3

Highly reliable - the original experiment can precisely state what steps were followed (theoretical)
Can easily identify cause and effect relationships

Question 4

What are the weaknesses of lab experiments ?

Answer 4

Artificial - its an artificial environment , and its unlikely that the results can be applied to the real-old (theoretical)
Hawthorne effect - the knowledge that your in an experiment can change someone’s behaviour (theoretical)
Consent - they usually involve deception o gaining info re consent can prove to be a problem (ethical)
Often expensive and time-consuming ((practical)

Question 5

What is a field experiment ?

Answer 5

Hypotheses is tested in the real-world a those involved are usually unaware.

Question 6

What are the strengths of field experiments ?

Answer 6

They are less artificial than lab experiments , because they have ecological validity (theoretical)
People don’t know that they are in an experiment so there is no Hawthorne effect (theoretical)

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of field experiments ?

Answer 7

There is less control over variables , so they are no as scientific (theoretical)
They have limited application as few real-world scenarios can become a field experiment (theoretical)
They do not gain consent of those ho are involved (ethical)