Types of experiments

• Types of experiments

  • Laboratory
  • Field
  • Online
  • Quasi
• Laboratory experiment

  • Scientific and objective
  • Form of experimental method where cause and effect is measured through the control and manipulation of variables
• Advantages of a laboratory experiement

  • Highly controlled (Controlled variables) improving internal validity
  • Replication is possible due to standardised procedures
• Disadvantages of a laboratory experiment

  • Loss of ecological validity as it is artifical (lacks mundane realism)
  • Prone to demand characteristics
• Field experiment

  • Experiment conducted in the real world in the natural environment, IV still manipulated
• Advantages of a field experiment

  • Greater ecological validity as conducted in real world so less artificial
  • Mundane realism
  • Reduction of demand characeristics as unaware of experiment
• Disadvantages of field experiment

  • Less control over variables lowering validity
  • Replication is difficult as would have to produce same environment
  • Lacks valid consent and deception
• Online experiments

  • Location of research where participants are assessed via the internet
• Advantages of online experiments

  • Gain access to a large diverse group improving external validity
  • Cost effective
  • Quicker
• Disadvantages of online experiments

  • Methods are limited
  • Lack of detailed information as often quantitative
  • Ethical issues such as harder to ensure consent and debriefs
• Quasi experiment

  • Researcher has not deliberately manipulated the IV, therefore is naturally occuring

  Natural experiments: IV naturally and DV measured in laboratory used when unethical to manipulate IV
• Advantages of quasi

  • Reduction of demand characteristics as no manipulation
  • Allows researcher to study real life situations
  • Greater ecological validity as IV naturally occuring
• Disadvantages of quasi

  • Loss of control over extraneous variables
  • Difficult to draw conclusions
  • Difficult to replicate