Natural

• What is a natural experiment?

  A study measuring IV effects on DV without control
• How does a natural experiment differ from a lab experiment?

  The researcher cannot control the IV
• What is the distinction regarding the IV in a natural experiment?

  The IV is natural, not the setting
• What types of DVs can be measured in natural experiments?

  DVs can be naturally occurring or devised
• What are the strengths of natural experiments?

  • Allow research on ethical/practical issues
  • High external validity from real-world studies
  • Example: studies of Romanian orphans
• Why do natural experiments have high external validity?

  They study real-world issues as they happen
• What are the limitations of natural experiments?

  • Rare naturally occurring events limit research
  • Limited generalizability to other situations
  • Non-random allocation of participants
  • Potential lack of realism in lab settings
• How does the rarity of naturally occurring events affect research opportunities?

  It reduces opportunities for conducting research
• What issue arises from non-random allocation in natural experiments?

  Less certainty about IV affecting DV
• In the study of Romanian orphans, what was the IV?

  Whether children were adopted early or late
• What other differences might affect the study of Romanian orphans?

  Differences in sociability among adopted children
• What is a potential issue when conducting research in a lab setting?

  It may lack realism and have demand characteristics