RM - Experimental Methods

Question 1

Strength of Lab:

Answer 1

high control over EVs → artificial environment (context) → cause + effect can be established between the IV and DV (context) → ↑ internal validity

Question 2

Limit of Lab:

Answer 2

lacks eco val → artificial environment (context) → diff to gen findings (context) to real life settings → ↓ internal validity

Question 3

Strength of Field:

Answer 3

high eco val → real life setting → easier to generalise finding to beyond setting of study to other similar settings

Question 4

Weakness of Field:

Answer 4

low control over EVs → real life setting → can’t establish cause+effect → ↓ internal validity

Question 5

Strength of Natural:

Answer 5

provide opportunities for research that may not have been undertaken for practical or ethical reasons → e.g Rutter’s Romanian orphans study = unethical to manipulate unless IV occurred naturally (context) → contributes to a greater psychological understanding of behaviour

Question 6

Weakness of Natural:

Answer 6

event may only happen very rarely → limits opportunities for research (context) → unlikely that the research can be repeated to check for consistent results → lacks reliability

Question 7

Lab Exp Definition:

Answer 7

conducted in a lab which is a highly controlled environment (MP1) where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure its effect on the DV (MP2)

Question 8

Field Exp Definition:

Answer 8

takes place in natural environment (for ppt) (MP1) where the researcher manipulates the IV to measure its effect on the DV (MP2)

Question 9

Natural Exp Definition:

Answer 9

researcher takes advantage of naturally occurring IV (MP1) to measure its effect on the DV (MP2) (can be controlled or naturalistic)

Question 10

Quasi Exp Definition:

Answer 10

IV based upon pre-existing difference between people (MP1) which the researcher hasn’t manipulated (MP2) and researcher measures the effect on the DV