Types of experiments

• How many types of experiments are there?

  Four types of experiments
• What are the four types of experiments?

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Field experiments
  • Natural experiments
  • Quasi experiments
• What does mundane realism/ecological validity refer to?

  Relating to real life behaviours or setting
• What is a cause and effect relationship?

  The IV is impacting the DV
• What are demand characteristics?

  When participants know the aim and change behaviour
• What does it mean to replicate an experiment?

  Easy to replicate and test for reliability
• What are laboratory experiments conducted under?

  Highly controlled conditions
• Do participants know they are in a lab experiment?

  Generally, yes, but not the true aims
• How are participants allocated in lab experiments?

  Randomly allocated to each group
• Can you name a study that was a lab experiment?

  Loftus and Palmer (1974)
• What is a strength of lab experiments?

  Stronger cause and effect relationship
• Why is it easier to replicate lab experiments?

  High control allows standardised procedures
• What is a weakness of lab experiments regarding realism?

  Lacks mundane realism and ecological validity
• What are demand characteristics in lab experiments?

  Participants may alter behaviour due to awareness
• Where are field experiments conducted?

  In the everyday environment of participants
• What does the experimenter do in field experiments?

  Manipulates the independent variable
• Are participants aware they are in a field experiment?

  Participants may not be aware
• What is a weakness of field experiments regarding replicability?

  Not as replicable due to uncontrolled variables
• What is a strength of field experiments regarding ecological validity?

  Higher ecological validity in real-life settings
• What ethical issue arises in field experiments?

  Participants may not know they are being studied
• What is a natural experiment?

  Uses a pre-existing independent variable
• What is a weakness of natural experiments regarding replicability?

  Not as replicable due to uncontrolled variables
• What is a strength of natural experiments regarding ethical considerations?

  Provides opportunities for research not otherwise possible
• What is a quasi experiment?

  Takes advantage of an existing independent variable
• What is a strength of quasi experiments regarding ethical considerations?

  Useful when unethical to manipulate the IV
• What is a weakness of quasi experiments regarding replicability?

  Not as replicable due to uncontrolled variables
• How does a lab experiment differ from a field experiment?

  Lab is controlled; field is real-life
• What is the difference between natural and quasi experiments?

  Natural uses pre-existing IV; quasi does not
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of lab experiments?

  Strengths:

  • Stronger cause and effect relationship
  • Easier to replicate

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lacks mundane realism
  • Demand characteristics may alter behaviour
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

  Strengths:

  • Higher ecological validity
  • Less demand characteristics

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Not as replicable
  • Weaker cause and effect relationship
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of natural experiments?

  Strengths:

  • High external validity
  • Appropriate for ethical reasons

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Not as replicable
  • Weaker cause and effect relationship
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of quasi experiments?

  Strengths:

  • Useful when unethical to manipulate IV
  • High external validity

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Not as replicable
  • Weaker cause and effect relationship