Experimental method

• What do laboratory experiments allow researchers to do?

  Make empirical measurements in controlled settings
• What is the main purpose of changing one variable in a lab experiment?

  To measure the effects of that variable
• What are extraneous variables in the context of lab experiments?

  Variables that are not of interest but affect results
• Why is it important to minimize extraneous variables in lab experiments?

  To maintain the validity of the results
• What is a strength of laboratory experiments regarding control?

  They are highly controlled environments
• How does a standardized procedure benefit lab experiments?

  It allows for easy replication of the experiment
• What is a potential issue with participants in lab experiments?

  They may respond to demand characteristics
• Why is low ecological validity a weakness of lab experiments?

  Behavior may not reflect real-life situations
• Where do field experiments take place?

  In natural, everyday settings
• How is the independent variable treated in field experiments?

  It is manipulated by the researcher
• What is a strength of field experiments compared to lab experiments?

  Higher ecological validity due to natural settings
• Why are participants less likely to show demand characteristics in field experiments?

  They are often unaware they are being studied
• What is a major weakness of field experiments?

  Difficulty in controlling extraneous variables
• Why is it hard to establish cause and effect in field experiments?

  Extraneous variables can influence the dependent variable
• What characterizes natural experiments?

  IV is not manipulated by the researcher
• When are natural experiments typically used?

  When IVs cannot be manipulated for ethical reasons
• What is a strength of natural experiments regarding ecological validity?

  They have high ecological validity in natural settings
• Why are participants less likely to show demand characteristics in natural experiments?

  They are often unaware they are part of the study
• What is a significant weakness of natural experiments?

  Difficulty in controlling extraneous variables
• Why is it hard to replicate natural experiments?

  Lack of control over extraneous variables
• What defines quasi-experiments?

  IV based on existing differences between people
• Why are quasi-experiments not considered true experiments?

  IV is not manipulated by the researcher
• What is a strength of quasi-experiments when conducted under controlled conditions?

  They share strengths of lab experiments
• What is a potential issue with the groups in quasi-experiments?

  They may differ in ways beyond the IV
• What confounding variables might affect quasi-experiments?

  Intelligence or sociability differences
• What weaknesses do quasi-experiments share with lab experiments?

  Prone to demand characteristics and low ecological validity