Laboratory experiments

• LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS


  Experiments conducted in a controlled laboratory setting
• Charkin et al -Teacher Expectations


  Charkin used 48 university student to act as teachers, and teach a lesson to a 10-year-old.

  One third of the uni students were told the boy was highly motivated and intellegent.

  a third were told he was poorly motivated with a low IQ

  The last third were not given any information.

  The study showed that those who had high expectations made more eye contact with the pupil and were more encouraging than those who had low expectations and researched specific aspects of teacher expectations like body language
• By conducting the experiment and creating a teacher/pupil scenario in controlled conditions, Charkin et al were able to collect and draw conclusions at their own pace, rather then waiting for such events to occur naturally in a classroom.
• Zimbardo-Stanford Prison Experiment (Example from Psychology)


  The Stanford prison experiment was a psychology experiment frot attempted to Investiga fe ptychological effect of perceived power, focusing on the struggle between prisoners and officers. The research re-soled how social roles sen fence our behaviour and the experiment was a landmark study of the hamon cipatie a captaby, in particular, to the real-world circumstances of pribos fe
• Zimbardo was criticised for the controlled nature of the study.

  Interpretivists suggest the data gathered is purelyinvalid and a snapshot of society.

  It was apparent that the participants' welbeing was compromised both psychologically and physically.

  Zimbordo has initially planned the experiment to last 14 days but instead it ended six days later after, a string of mental breakdowns, an outbreak of sadism and a hunger strike ensued.
• Milgram-Obedience to Authority (Example from Psychology)


  This was a psychological experiment designed to test people's obedience to authority. The participants had been lied to about the true nature of the experiment. They were told to give electric shocks when a learner failed to answer a question correctly by an authoritative figure. it was an actor who was actually being shocked, yet 65% of our participants administered the lethal shock of 450 volts showing that most people do conform to authoritative roles and are obedient.
• Pasifists approve of this research, because of its objectivity. As the experiment was conducted in a laboratory all variables were controlled, meaning that is and outside infance were avoided. However, terpretivists would disagree and state that a lock of validity is more important os how often are man ngs put in such on usual environment, They suggest that such behaviour à not a reflection of portideens in the auhide world
• Researcher pressure impacts validity
• STRENGTHS


  • Practical-Don't Have to Wait for Events to Occur Naturally
  • Ethical-Can Stop the Experiment if Too Dangerous
  • Theoretical-Objectivity
• How can the work of Charkin be applied to the strength above?


  1. Charkins they recreated an educational setting, Chaukin et al dis

  2. But have to wait to collect data and draws they conclusion

  3. and were able to do so at their own pace by creating the

  4. teacher/pupul scenario in controlled conditions.
• How can the work of Zimbardo be applied to the ethical strength of withdrawal?


  Zimbardo's study was meant to last for two weeks but was abruptly stopped after 6 days due to many factors such as when the particpants' wellbeing and protection was compromised mental preakdowns, outbreak of sadism, hunger strikes
• How can the work of Milgram be applied to PET strengths?


  1. Milgram variables were all controled and there was no external influences such as researcher bias.

  2. This produced quantitative data where Milgram found that 65% of participants administered the lethal 450v Shock to the actor when under the influence of an authoritative figure.
• LIMITATIONS


  • Practical-Cannot Fit Society into a Laboratory
  • Ethical-Danger of Harm to Those Being Researched
  • Theoretical-Lacking Validity
• How can the work of Charkin be applied to PET factors?

  1. Charkin et al may raise practical issues as they could not simulate a real classroom in a controlled setting such as a laboratory.

  2. A lab has no natural variables found within a natural school setting such as the presence of multiple students rather than just the one pupil which speeds up the process of the research conclusions.
• How can the work of Milgram be applied to the PET factors?


  1. Migram's study was based in an unnatural environment, therefore invalid.

  2. It may have been traumatising for most participants to experience and as a result may have inflicted a lot of psychological harm to the participants endangering their wellbeing

  3. not representative as this scenario is highly unlikely to be experienced within society.
• How can the work of Zimbardo be applied to the PET factors?


  1. Zimbardo controlled nature of the study means that the results would be unauthentic

  2. Wellbeing of the participants was endangered but because of the controlled nature of the study, it was able to be immediately and abruptly stopped to aid the participants needs.

  3. results found will not reflect social meanings or social truth.
• Charkin et al can be criticised as it is not posible to recreate society in a laboratory, and the setting would have lacked variables such as other pupils, long-term rapport between the teacher and pupil and the daily school routine. This is a practical issue due to the size and scope of the experiment. Interpretivists would criticise this as it lacks validity and the data collected is only a snapshot of society/unrepresentative.
• This led to criticism as harm had happened, however due to the controlled nature of the experiment, Zimbardo immediately stopped the experiment for the protection of the participants.