Natural Experiments

• What is a natural experiment?

  An observation of real-world effects
• What are the key characteristics of natural experiments?

  • Occur in real-world settings
  • Researchers do not control the event
  • Less control over extraneous variables
  • Allow observation of natural effects
• Where do natural experiments occur?

  In real-world settings
• What do natural experiments rely on to study behavior?

  Naturally occurring events or interventions
• How do researchers observe groups in natural experiments?

  They observe pre-existing groups without controlling variables
• What type of events can be studied in natural experiments?

  Events that cannot be controlled in a lab
• Why is it difficult to replicate natural experiments?

  They involve non-repeatable naturally occurring events
• What are the key differences between natural and laboratory experiments?

  • Control:
  • Natural: Limited, observe natural events
  • Laboratory: High, control all variables
  • Setting:
  • Natural: Real-world
  • Laboratory: Controlled laboratory
  • Participants:
  • Natural: Existing groups
  • Laboratory: Randomly assigned
• What type of control do laboratory experiments provide?

  High control over all variables
• How do confounding variables affect natural experiments?

  They complicate the interpretation of outcomes
• Why do natural experiments have high external validity?

  They occur naturally, reflecting real-life situations
• How does a natural experiment differ from a laboratory experiment?

  Natural experiments have less control over variables
• What are natural experiments?

  Experiments that happen naturally in real-world settings
• How are participants selected in laboratory experiments?

  Randomly assigned
• What are the differences between natural experiments and laboratory experiments?

  • Control: Limited in natural experiments, high in laboratory experiments
  • Setting: Real-world for natural experiments, controlled for laboratory experiments
  • External Validity: High for natural experiments, lower for laboratory experiments
  • Ethical Concerns: Less manipulation in natural experiments, potential for bias in laboratory experiments
• What is a key strength of natural experiments?

  High external validity
• How does the control of variables in natural experiments compare to laboratory experiments?

  Natural experiments have limited control of variables
• How do natural experiments compare to laboratory experiments in terms of control and setting?

  | | Natural Experiment | Laboratory Experiment |

  |---|---|---|

  | Control | Limited | High |

  | Setting | Real-world | Controlled |

  | Participants | Existing groups | Randomly assigned |
• What are the characteristics of natural experiments?

  • High external validity: generalizable results
  • Limited control: reduced internal validity
• What is a challenge in establishing causality in natural experiments?

  Control is lacking, making causality unclear
• What is a limitation of sample sizes in natural experiments?

  Smaller sample sizes reduce generalizability
• Why are ethical considerations important in natural experiments?

  They ensure participant safety and integrity of research
• How do natural experiments allow scientists to observe effects?

  They observe effects without control over all variables
• What is a weakness of natural experiments regarding control?

  Limited control over variables
• What is a key characteristic of laboratory experiments?

  Scientists manipulate variables and select participants
• How should researchers handle deception in natural experiments?

  Consider it if it enhances the study
• How does the control level differ between natural and laboratory experiments?

  Natural experiments have limited control compared to laboratory
• What is the setting of laboratory experiments?

  Controlled laboratory
• Why is privacy crucial in natural experiments?

  To protect participant confidentiality and minimize risks
• What is a crucial ethical consideration in natural experiments regarding participant privacy?

  Protecting participant confidentiality
• What are the key differences between natural and laboratory experiments?

  • Control: Limited in natural, high in laboratory
  • Setting: Real-world for natural, controlled for laboratory
  • Replicability: Low in natural, high in laboratory
  • Causality: Uncertain in natural, clear in laboratory
  • Confounding variables: Potential in natural, minimal in laboratory
• Why might researchers prefer natural experiments over laboratory experiments?

  They can observe real-world effects naturally
• What are the key differences between natural and laboratory experiments regarding ethical considerations?

  • Control: Limited in natural, high in laboratory
  • Observer Effect: More likely in natural, manageable in laboratory
  • Deception: Often not needed in natural, may be used in laboratory
  • Privacy: Crucial in natural, important but easier to control in laboratory
• How does the likelihood of the observer effect differ between natural and laboratory experiments?

  It is more likely in natural experiments
• What is the observer effect in natural experiments?

  It refers to researchers influencing the event or participants
• In what context is deception more likely to be used in experiments?

  In laboratory experiments for manipulation