Experiments

Question 1

In a nutshell

Answer 1

An experiment is characterised by its high degree of control that the researcher has over the situation. In an experiment, the researcher identifies and controls all variables that might affect the outcome. By manipulating the variables and observing what happens, the researcher can discover cause and effect relationships. There are two main types of experiments: laboratory experiments and field experiments.

Question 2

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS

Answer 2

Favoured by positivists, lab experiments test hypothesise in a controlled environment where the researcher changes the independent variable and measures the effect on the dependent variable.

Question 3

ADVANTAGES

Answer 3

Highly reliable- the original experiment can specify precisely what steps were followed in the original experiments

Can easily identify cause and effect relationships

Question 4

DISADVANTAGES

Answer 4

Artificiality - lab experiments are carried out in a highly artificial environment and may not reveal how people act in the real world, any behaviour in these conditions may be artificial.

Question 5

DISADVANTAGES 2

Answer 5

The Hawthorne effect - a lab is not a formal or natural environment - If people know they are being studied, they may act differently.

Question 6

DISADVANTAGES 3

Answer 6

Ethical issues - the researcher needs informed consent of the participants - this may be difficult to obtain

Question 7

DISADVANTAGES 4

Answer 7

Unrepresentative: the small-scale nature of lab experiments reduces their representativeness

Question 8

DISADVANTAGES 5

Answer 8

It would be impossible to identify and/or control all the variables that might exert an influence on certain social issues (Eg. a child’s education)

Question 9

Field EXPERIMENTS

Answer 9

Field experiments take place in the real social world, whereby the sociologist either creates a situation or adapts a real-life situation to their research purpose. Those involved are usually unaware of the research taking place.

Question 10

ADVANTAGES

Answer 10

Less artificiality - field experiments are set in real-world situations.

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Validity - people are unaware of the experimental situation (no Hawthorne effect) and are in their usual social environment, they will act normally

Question 11

DISADVANTAGES

Answer 11

Ethical issues - involves carrying out an experiment on people without their informed consent

Less control over variables

Limited application - field experiments can only be applied to a limited number of social situations.