Experiments

• Lab experiments

  • Highly controlled environment, easily replicated
  • Artificial situation, low ecological validity
• Field experiment

  • High ecological validity, natural Behaviour from ppts (internal validity)
  • Unethical (ppts unaware they are taking part in an experiment)
• Natural experiment

  • IV can’t be manipulated for ethical or practical reasons and enables psychologists to study real problems
  • Ppts may be aware they are being studied, can only be used when conditions change naturally
• Quasi experiment

  • IV not manipulated and based on pre-existing differences in people (e.g age, gender)
  • The DV is naturally occuring (e.g exam resulots
  • Strengths - Allows comparisons between types of people and highly controlled
  • Weaknesses - DV may be artificial, ppts may be aware of being studied