Research Methods

Question 1

Laboratory experiments

Answer 1

-IV is manipulated
-DV is measured
-EVs/CVs highly controlled
-Study conducted in a controlled environment

Question 2

Field Experiments

Answer 2

-IV is manipulated
-DV measured
-CV/EVs moderately controlled
-Conducted in a natural environment

Question 3

Natural Experiments

Answer 3

-IV is a naturally occurring event e.g earth quake
-DV measured
-CV/EVs difficult to control
-Conducted in a natural environment

Question 4

Quasi Experiments

Answer 4

-IV is a naturally occurring characteristic e.g gender
-DV is measured
-CV/EVS moderately controlled
-Conducted in a controlled or natural environment

Question 5

On-line Experiments

Answer 5

-IV is manipulated
-DV measured
-CVs/EVs difficult to control
-Conducted via internet

Question 6

Strengths of highly controlled environments

Answer 6

-highly controlled environment there will be maximum control over IV/DV and CV/EVs.
-Strength because it means the study has a high level of internal experimental validity allowing researcher to establish cause and effect

Question 7

Weaknesses of highly controlled environments

Answer 7

If the experimental is conducted in an artificial environment or uses an artificial task e.g driving simulator rather than a real car to test driving accuracy. Findings may lack ecological validity which is a weakness as it reduces external validity and findings cannot be generalised to real life.

Question 8

Strengths of natural environments

Answer 8

The more reflective the environment and task are of real life the greater the level of ecological validity.

Question 9

Weaknesses of natural environments

Answer 9

The level of internal validity reduces when the researcher has less control over the variables.