Experiments

• Definition

  An experiment in sociology involves manipulating one or more independent variables to observe the effects on one or more dependant variables while controlling for other factors
• Types of experiments

  1. Laboratory experiments
  2. Field experiments
  3. Natural experiments
• Laboratory Experiments

  • Conducted in a controlled area
  • Typically in a lab
  • Researchers typically manipulate variables precisely
• Field Experiments

  • Controlled in real life settings
  • Allows greater validity but less control over variables
• Natural Experiments 


  • Utilises naturally occurring situations or events to study their effects without direct manipulation by researcher
• Key components


  • Hypothesis
  • Independent Variable
  • Dependent Variable
  • Control Group
  • Experimental Group
  • Randomisation
  • Operationalisation
• Hypothesis


  A clear statement producing the relationships between variables
• Independent Variable


  The variable manipulated by the researcher
• Dependent Variable


  The variable being observed or measured, which is influenced by the independent variable
• Control Group


  The group that doesn't receive the experimental treatment, used as a baseline for comparison
• Experimental Group

  The group that receives the experimental treatment or manipulation
• Randomisation

  Assigning participants to groups randomly to control bias and ensure equal representation
• Operationalisation


  Defining variables in measurable terms to ensure consistency and replicability
• Evaluation Of Experiments


  Strengths:

  1. Cause and Effect: Experiments can show if one thing causes another, like if a new teaching method improves grades.

  2. Control: They let us keep things the same except for what we're studying, making the results more trustworthy.

  3. Reliability: Other researchers can do the same experiment to check if they get the same results.

  4. Produces Quantitative Data : Experiments give us numbers we can easily understand and compare.

  5. Helpful for Decisions: They can guide decisions about how to teach better.
• Evaluations 


  Limitations:

  1. Not Like Real Life: Sometimes the experiments don't feel like real school, so the findings might not apply everywhere.
  2. Ethical Problems: Sometimes it's not fair to treat students differently for the sake of an experiment.
  3. Hard to Organize: It can be tough to set up experiments in real schools.
  4. Short-term Focus: Experiments might miss the long-term effects of changes in education.
  5. Limited Understanding: They might not capture everything that affects learning, like home life or culture.