Laboratory Experiment

• Laboratory experiment


  conducted in lab (controlled enviro), IV manipulated Dv measured, participants know they're taking part even if they don't know true aim
• Strengths 


  • most scientific, high control over extraneous variables

  • direct control of IV, IV manipulated + DV measured, both can be operationalised

  • high internal reliability: consistency within procedures, standardised procedures = replication

  • objective: imperial research findings, based on fact not bias

  • cause & effect relationship, IV direct affect on DV (if extraneous controlled)
• Weaknesses


  • low external validity, lab experi have low eco validity, enviro artificial, not reflective of where/how behaviour studied irl = low mundane realism = can't generalise to everday

  • demand characteristics: participants know they're taking part in research = try to guess aim = unconsciously change behaviour to fit aim = invalidate research