Types of experiments

• Types of experiment:

  describe and evaluate a laboratory experiment?


  Highly controlled setting

  DV measured in a control setting

  IV changed by the researcher

  + high control of EVs

  + can be easily replicated

  + high internal validity

  ~ demand characteristics

  ~ low external validity
• Types of experiment:

  describe and evaluate field experiment 


  researcher manipulating the IV in the natural setting

  DV measured in the natural environment

  + high mundane realism

  + high external validity

  ~ EVs - cannot be sure if the IV effects the DV

  ~ ethical issues
• Types of experiment:

  describe and evaluate A natural experiment


  IV not manipulated

  DV measured in a natural setting

  + high mundane realism

  + high external validity

  ~ may only happen rarely

  ~ hard to control EVs
• Types of experiment:

  describe and evaluate a quasi-experiment


  No manipulation of the IV —> existing condition

  often carried out in a lab environment

  + carried out in a control setting

  + high ecological validity

  ~ could be an uneven mix —> cannot randomly allocate participants to conditions

  ~ other variables (confounding) may effect DV