Types of experiment

Question 1

What are laboratory experiments?

Answer 1

An experiments that takes place in a highly controlled environment where researcher manipulates IV and records the effect on DV

Question 2

What are the strengths of laboratory experiments?

Answer 2

• high control over extraneous variables so researcher can ensure effect on DV is due to manipulation of IV
• replication more possible due to high levels of control
• this ensures new extraneous variables aren’t introduced
• replication is important to check findings are valid and not a one-off

Question 3

What are the limitations of laboratory experiments?

Answer 3

• may lack generalisability since lab experiments are artificial and don’t represent everyday life
• may cause pps to behave in unusual ways due to environment which means it lacks external validity
• pps are usually aware that they’re being tested in a lab which leads to demand characteristics
• low mundane realism which means tasks carried out by pps don’t represent real life

Question 4

What are field experiments?

Answer 4

An experiment that takes place in a natural setting where researcher manipulates IV and records effect on DV

Question 5

What are the strengths of field experiments?

Answer 5

• higher mundane realism since environment is more natural
• produces more valid & authentic behaviour
• pps are usually unaware that they’re being tested so it has high external validity

Question 6

What are the limitations of field experiment?

Answer 6

• loss of control of extraneous variables
• cause and effect of IV & DV is more difficult to establish
• precise replication often not possible
• ethical issues raised that is pps are unaware they’re being tested they haven’t given consent to being studied which can be seen as an invasion of privacy

Question 7

What are natural experiments?

Answer 7

An experiment where change of IV is pre-existing and researcher records effect on DV

Question 8

What are the strengths of natural experiments?

Answer 8

• provide opportunities for research that may have not been undertaken due to ethical or practical reasons
• often have high external validity since they involve studies of real-life issues e.g. effects of natural disaster on stress levels

Question 9

What are the limitations of natural experiments?

Answer 9

• naturally occurring event happens rarely which reduces opportunity for research
• limits extent of generalising findings to similar situations
• pps may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions so researcher might be less sure whether IV affected DV

Question 10

What are quasi-experiments?

Answer 10

A study where IV hasn’t been determined by anyone & the variables simply ‘exist’ e.g. age or gender

Question 11

What are the strength of quasi-experiments?

Answer 11

• they’re carried under controlled conditions so share strengths with lab experiments

Question 12

What are the limitations of quasi-experiments?

Answer 12

• can’t randomly allocate pps to conditions so there may be confounding variables