Experiments

• What is the main method of the natural sciences?

  Experiments
• What is a key feature of an experiment?

  High degree of control over variables
• What do researchers do in an experiment?

  Identify and control all variables
• What are the two main types of experiments?

  Laboratory experiments and field experiments
• What is an advantage of laboratory experiments?

  More control over variables
• What is a disadvantage of laboratory experiments?

  They are more artificial
• What is a key characteristic of field experiments?

  They take place in real-world situations
• What is a disadvantage of field experiments?

  Less control over variables
• What is the Hawthorne effect?

  Participants change behavior due to awareness of being studied
• What ethical problem is associated with experiments?

  Deception leading to lack of informed consent
• What do positivists believe about social reality?

  It is measurable and objective
• Why do positivists favor experiments?

  They produce reliable, repeatable results
• What do interpretivists claim about experiments?

  They produce low validity data
• What is a problem with laboratory experiments regarding validity?

  Results may not transfer to real life
• Why is it difficult to control variables in laboratory experiments?

  Social interactions have many influencing factors
• What is a limitation of laboratory experiments regarding scale?

  They study only small-scale interactions
• What is the aim of field experiments?

  To obtain control while avoiding artificiality
• What is an advantage of field experiments regarding validity?

  Participants act normally in their environment
• What is a disadvantage of field experiments regarding application?

  Few situations can be adapted for them
• What is the comparative method?

  A thought experiment comparing two similar groups
• What is a strength of the comparative method?

  Avoids artificiality and poses no ethical problems
• What is a limitation of the comparative method?

  No control over variables
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of laboratory experiments?

  Strengths:

  • High control over variables
  • Reliable and repeatable results

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Artificial environment
  • Low validity in real-world application
  • Difficulty in controlling all variables
  • Ethical issues with deception
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of field experiments?

  Strengths:

  • Less artificiality
  • Higher validity due to natural behavior

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Less control over variables
  • Limited application in complex situations
  • Ethical issues with informed consent
• How do positivists and interpretivists differ in their views on experiments?

  Positivists:

  • Favor experiments for reliability and objectivity
  • Believe in measurable social reality

  
  

  Interpretivists:

  • Critique experiments for low validity
  • Argue they do not capture social behavior accurately
• What is the purpose of using experiments in education?

  To study aspects of classroom life
• How do sociologists use field experiments in education?

  To study classroom expectations and pupil concepts
• What do clear boundaries in a classroom help with?

  They help researchers achieve control over situations
• Why are laboratory experiments rarely used in educational research?

  Because they are not easily replicable
• What makes classroom experiments easier for researchers?

  Clear boundaries in space and time
• What is a common issue with experiments involving young people?

  They may raise ethical concerns
• Why are some experiments in education considered simple?

  They are often relatively simple to repeat
• What is a limitation of educational experiments?

  They may not be exactly replicable
• What is a common feature of schools that allows for similar experiments?

  Schools have broadly similar features
• What is a challenge when conducting experiments in large schools?

  Many variables affect teacher and pupil behavior
• Why is it difficult to control all variables in educational experiments?

  Schools are complex institutions with many variables
• What ethical issue arises from using pupils in experiments?

  Pupils may not fully understand consent
• What is a limitation of laboratory experiments in educational research?

  They are rarely used in educational research
• What is a characteristic of small-scale experiments in education?

  They usually examine a single aspect of behavior
• How do larger issues in education affect research experiments?

  They complicate the control of variables