Types of experiment Flashcards
(5 cards)
Lab experiment ?
Controlled environment
Allows control of variables
Reliable - easy to replicate
High internal validity - can control extraneous variables
Low ecological validity - Results not translate to everyday life
Field experiment ?
Less controlled environment - conducted in a real life setting
Example - in a school/the street
Still controls the IV
High ecological validity - reflect real life
If covert observation - less demand characteristics
Low internal validity - harder to control extraneous variables in the study.
Natural experiment ?
In everyday environment of the ppts and no control of the IV
Ecological validity high - Reflect real life
No demand characteristics - ppts tend to not know they are being observed/researched
(Can lead to ethical issues as not fully informed consent).
No control over extraneous variables
Can be more time consuming
Quasi experiment ?
Reminder - biased results as a problem
examine cause-and-effect relationships when random assignment of participants to groups is not possible or ethical.
Can manipulate the IV - control confounding variables.
(Can use matching/control groups to account for the CV’s)
High internal validity.
Biased results - Without random assignment of ppts researcher may select ppts based on factors that correlate with the outcome.
Cant account for all confounding variables.
Case studies ?
In depth investigations of an individual or a specific group
Qualitative data - In depth info - in depth investigation - further questions.
Able to investigate more sensitive topics that if done in more controlled experiments could have ethical issues.
(Studying children/vulnerable adults).
Unreliable/time consuming
Less scientific as no control of variables
Researcher bias - will only conduct if they are interested in the topic they are researching.
They may have an expected outcome to their research that they put down which could have ethical implications.
