Experiments

• What type of experiment is conducted in a controlled environment?

  Laboratory experiment
• Why can a cause and effect relationship be established in laboratory experiments?

  High control of extraneous variables
• What is a major limitation of laboratory experiments regarding ecological validity?

  Artificial setting limits generalizability
• What is a key feature of laboratory experiments regarding the independent variable (IV)?

  IV is set up by the experimenter
• How does the replicability of laboratory experiments benefit research?

  It checks the reliability of the study
• What is a potential issue with demand characteristics in laboratory experiments?

  Participants know they are in a study
• What type of experiment is conducted in a real-life setting?

  Field experiment
• Why do field experiments have higher ecological validity?

  They occur in a natural setting
• What is a limitation of field experiments regarding cause and effect relationships?

  Less control of extraneous variables
• How does the manipulation of the IV differ in field experiments compared to laboratory experiments?

  IV is manipulated by the experimenter
• What is a benefit of participants being unaware they are in a field experiment?

  Reduces chance of demand characteristics
• What is a characteristic of natural experiments regarding the IV?

  IV is an event that is naturally occurring
• Why do natural experiments have increased ecological validity?

  They take place in a natural setting
• What is a limitation of natural experiments regarding cause and effect relationships?

  Less control of extraneous variables
• How is the DV measured in natural experiments?

  By researchers
• What is a potential issue with replicating natural experiments?

  Very unlikely to replicate the study
• What type of experiment can be conducted in either a lab or real life?

  Quasi-experiment
• What is a characteristic of quasi-experiments regarding participant allocation?

  Less experimenter bias in allocation
• What is a limitation of quasi-experiments regarding participant variables?

  More chance of extraneous variables
• What is not possible in quasi-experiments regarding participant allocation?

  Randomly allocate participants to a condition
• How are participants assigned in quasi-experiments?

  Automatically assigned to a condition
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of laboratory, field, natural, and quasi-experiments?

  Laboratory Experiments:

  • Strengths: High control, easily replicated
  • Weaknesses: Low ecological validity, demand characteristics

  
  

  Field Experiments:

  • Strengths: Higher ecological validity, reduced demand characteristics
  • Weaknesses: Less control, ethical issues

  
  

  Natural Experiments:

  • Strengths: Increased ecological validity, reduced demand characteristics
  • Weaknesses: Less control, difficult to replicate

  
  

  Quasi-Experiments:

  • Strengths: Less experimenter bias in allocation
  • Weaknesses: More extraneous variables, not randomly assigned