Types Of Experiments

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  • Created by: Jscott18
  • Created on: 05-11-17 15:22

Lab Experiments

  • Tightly controlled and artificial
  • Manipulates IV and measures DV
  • Minimises extraneous variables
  • Instructions are standardised

Advantages:

  • High internal validity
    • IV is responsible for changes on the DV so statements about cause and effect can be made
  • High reliability
    • Controlled so can be replicated / repeated

Disadvantages:

  • Low ecological validity and mundane realism
    • Unlikely to be representative of real life so cant generalise
  • Demand characteristics
    • Participants are aware they are taking part so may alter their behaviour
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Field Experiments

  • Conducted in a natural / 'real world' environment .e.g. hospital, park
  • Manipulates IV and measures DV
  • Minimal control od extreneous variables

Advantages:

  • Higher ecological validity and mundane realism
    • Representative of everyday life so can be generalised
  • Fewer demand characteristics
    • Participants are unaware they are in an experiment so their behaviour is natural

Disadvantages:

  • Low internal validity
    • Can't say that the IV is responsible for any changes in the DV due to EV's
  • Poor reliability:
    • The same conditions will not be able to be replicated so it can't be repeated
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Natural And Quasi Experiments

  • No random allocation of participants to conditions
  • Measures DV but little control of extraneous varaibles
  • Quasi = Involves the IV of participants 'self-selecting' themselves into conditions
  • Natural = Involves the IV not being programmed by anyone

Advantages:

  • Allows the study of areas which would not normally be studied for practical or ethical reasons
    • A way to investigate sensitve topics .e.g. child neglect
  • Fewer demand characteristics
    • Unaware they are taking in an experiment so their behaviour will be natural

Disadvantages:

  • Usually investigate reasonably rare events
    • Reduces to opportunities for research
  • Lowest levels of internal validity
    • Participants are not ramdomly assigned but automatically assigned based on things like age
    • Likely to be affected by confounding variables
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