Field experiments

• Field Experiments

  • performed in a ‘natural setting’
  • by observation of an environment where the variables cannot be confirmed
  • favoured by interpretivists as it allows valid, qualitative data to be found.
• Noon - Racial Discrimination


  conducted a field experiment on racism in employment. sent two identical candidates with one ‘ethnic‘ name and one ‘white’ name created by the researcher.

  sent their enquiries to the top 100 uk firms and the ‘white’ candidate was more likely to be treated more favourably.

  his findings have influenced employment policy and practice
• Noon; ethical weakness = deception


  the applicants were falsified and their names were created by Noon
• Noon; practical strength = testing government policy


  it tests Government equality/discrimination policies in the workplace and his findings have an influence on government policy and practice in society.
• Field Experiments


  A sociological experiment that is carried out beyond the laboratory, in a natural setting, where the variables cannot be fully controlled
• Field Experiments


  • Performed in a natural setting by observation of an unprepared natural environment, where the variables cannot be controlled
  • Preferred by theorists because of the natural setting and the findings which should follow
• Field Experiments


  • Noon's study on racial discrimination in employment
  • Rosenthal and Jacobson's Pygmalion in the Classroom study
  • Sissons' study at Paddington Train Station
• Noon's experiment involved using fabricated job applications with different names to test for racial discrimination in hiring
• Rosenthal and Jacobson deceived both students and teachers by falsely labelling some students as advanced learners
• Sissons hired an actor to change clothing and observe how people's reactions varied based on the actor's assumed social status
• Lack of control over variables in field experiments


  Data cannot be trusted and lacks validity
• Field experiments conducted covertly


  Lack of informed consent, which is unethical
• Difficulty replicating field experiments


  Lack of reliability as each experiment is unique