2. Lab and field experiments

• What is an experiment?


  a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
• Casual relationship in an experiment?


  refers to the connection between two variables where one variable influences or causes a change in the other variable.
• What is a lab experiment?


  They are experiments conducted in highly controlled environments.
• What is a field experiment?


  An experiment that takes place in a natural setting within which the researcher manipulates the IV and records the effect on the DV.
• strength and limitations of lab experiments-


  :) easy to replicate

  :) high degree of control

  :( low ecological validity

  :( demand characteristics
• strength and limitations of field experiments-


  :) high ecological validity

  :) less chance of demand characteristics

  :( less control

  :( potential ethical issues
• what is ecological validity?


  the extent to which it reflects the child's actual, daily environment and life experience
• What are demand characteristics?


  - describes how participants change behaviour to match expectations of experimenter.

  
  

  - conformed because that's what experimenter wanted them to do
• what is random allocation?


  An attempt to control for participant variables in an independent groups design which ensures that each participant has the same chance of being in one condition as any other.