types of experiments

    Cards (13)

    • what is an experiment?
      when the independent variable (IV ) is manipulated by the researcher between two or more conditions (DV) of the experiment
    • what is a lab experiment?
      • defined by a high level of control the researcher has over variables
    • advantages of lab exp?
      ->allows a confident establishment of cause to effect relationship
      ->high in internal validity
      -> easily replicated = greater validity
    • disadvantages of lab exp?
      -> lacks mundane realism
      ->can lead to increase in demand characteristics
      -> low in external validity
    • what is a field experiment?
      • conducted in a naturalistic setting eg. town centre
    • advantages of field exp?
      ->high ecological validity
      ->increase mundane realism
      ->less demand characteristics
    • disadvantage of field exp?
      ->lack of control over extraneous variables
      -> internal validity is lower
    • what is a natural experiment?
      • the levels of IV have occurred naturally without influence of researcher eg. earthquake
    • advantages of natural exp?
      -> enables research into previously unavailable subjects
      -> high in external validity
    • disadvantages of natural exp?
      -> no control over extraneous variables
      ->often rare events that cannot be replicated (lacks reliability)
    • what is a quasi exp?
      • participants are not randomly assigned levels of IV due to it occuring naturally eg. age
    • advantages of quasi exp?
      -> only way to experimentally study pre-existing characteristics
    • disadvantages of quasi exp?
      -> confounding variables cannot be controlled
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