Experimental methods

Laboratory Experiments: 

Research is carried out in a controlled enviroment e.g. classroom 

Positives

(+) It is more reliable due to the controlled conditions 

(+) Resources are more available to access 

(+) It is available to replicate, this enables anyone to check reliability and truth 

Negatives 

(-) Little ecological validility so it has little practical application in everyday life, as it takes people out of their usual setting 

Field Experiments

Research is carried out in an everyday setting. 

Positives

(+) It will have good ecological validity due to experimented in an everyday life setting 

(+) It will have a good and useful practical application

Negatives 

(-) Participants may be forced into the experiment

(-) May be extranous variables you can't control 

(-) difficult to repeat, to check for truth or accuracy