Topic 1 - experiments Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are the three types of experiments?
- Laboratory
- Field
- Comparative method
What is a field experiment?
Takes place in natural settings. There is no Hawthorne effect as participants are unaware they are being part of an experiment. It is favoured by positivists due to its natural setting
What was Rosenhan’s field experiment, and how was it unethical?
Investigated the reliability of psychiatric staff to identify the sane from the insane. Rosenhan did not get consent for the experiment to take place - therefore it was unethical.
What is a practical, ethical and theoretical strength of field experiments.
P- Natural setting so it costs less money.
E- No hawthorne effect because participants are unaware of the experiment.
T- Validity- Similar to ethical, the results are valid as they are true, not pretended.
What are practical, ethical and theoretical weaknesses of field experiments?
P- Researcher has no control over the environment as it is in an uncontrolled environment.
E- No informed consent due to people being unaware they are being studied.
T- Reliability- The study will be hard to replicate because it will be hard to study the same people and views in a different time like 10 years later.
What are laboratory experiments?
Take place in a controlled environment where participants are aware there is an experiment taking place- therefore Hawthorne effect may be present.
Favoured by positivists.
What is the hawthorne effect?
When individuals know they are being studied so they change their behaviour.
What are the practical, ethical and theoretical strengths of lab experiments?
P- Funding bodies- Funding bodies like to fund lab experiments as they hold the prestige of being a science.
E- Informed consent- Participants must give informed consent to be part of the experiment. Otherwise it can not happen
T- Reliability- Easy to replicate due to it being in a controlled setting
What practical, ethical, and theoretical weaknesses of lab experiments?
P- Sample size- Difficult to investigate on a large scale due to it only studying small samples
E- Harm- The study could harm participants if they are deceived into doing harmful activities. (Miligram)
T- Representativeness- Only small sample size so does not represent a whole population.
What was Milgram’s study?
Studied obedience to authority and lied to his participants about the nature of the research. Ended up harming the participants
