Experimental method

• What are the strengths of lab experiments?

  Controlled environment means that cause and effect can be determined which increases internal validity. It is easy to replicate due to standardised procedure which increases reliability.
• What are the weaknesses of a lab experiment?

  There are demand characteristics as participants are aware they are being studied so they may change their behaviour. There is low ecological validity as it is not reflective of everyday behaviour.
• What are the strengths of a field experiment?

  Less demand characteristics as they are unaware they are being studied. Mundane realism as the study reflects a real life environment. High ecological validity as the findings can be applied to the real world.
• What are the weaknesses of a field experiment?

  Hard to control extraneous variables which decreases internal validity. Ethical issues may occur if they are unaware they are being studied.
• What is the difference between a quasi natural experiment and a quasi difference study?

  In the natural experiment the IV varies naturally as the researcher doesn’t directly manipulate the IV. In the difference study the IV varies naturally as the difference simply exists between people e.g gender.
• What are the strengths of a natural quasi experiment?

  Can be used when unethical and impractical to manipulate the IV. High external validity as it studies real problems. High mundane realism and ecological validity.
• What are the strengths of a quasi difference study?

  Used when the researcher is interested in a difference that already exists. High mundane realism and ecological validity.
• What are the weaknesses of quasi experiments?

  Cannot randomly allocate people to conditions so and lead to confounding variables. Reduced opportunities as events happen rarely. Lack of control as it is naturally occurring.
• What are the strengths of online experiments?

  Able to recruit large numbers of participants and at a low cost as participants do not need to be paid for participating. There is access to various online groups to study social processes. Researchers can be less obstructive online as opposed to carrying out research face to face. Less time consuming and cost effective.
• What are the weaknesses of online experiments?

  Demand characteristics occur. Low ecological validity. Issues with quality as anyone can conduct research online and publish it. Participants may be similar which prevents generalisation. More ethical issues as participants can’t be closely monitored. Participants may invest less time and energy.