Locations of research

• Advantages of a laboratory?

  Allow researchers to measure variables easily- easier to control for confounding or extraneous variables. Easier to replicate research. Can utilise equipment that aren't very portable, e.g, PET machines.
• Disadvantages of laboratory?

  May cause participants to demonstrate artificial behaviour. Some research can't be conducted in lab due to nature of behaviour being researched, e.g, breeding habits of dugongs (G.B reef).
• Advantages of the field as a location of research?

  Minimised artificial nature of research, so may behave more naturally. Can examine behaviour in huge range of contexts that would be difficult to accommodate in lab.
• Disadvantages of the field as a location of research?

  Hard to utilise a full complement of equipment, many not portable, e.g, brain scanning machines. More difficult to measure research variables & hard to control for confounding & extraneous variables. After replication, findings may be different due to differences in settings.
• Advantages of online as a location of research?


  Can access large group of participants (diverse & less culturally biased), cost effective (free, cheap software), data analysis generally quicker as participants already transcribed responses & analysis can be conducted.
• Disadvantages of online as a location of research?

  Methods used tend to be limited (surveys & questionnaires), difficult to deal with consent & risk of harm- most asked to tick box to say they've read terms & conditions, hard to appropriately debrief.
• What is a laboratory?

  Environment which can be controlled by researcher. Easy to manipulate IV & control extraneous variables.
• What is the field?


  Working with participants in environment more familiar to them.
• What is online?


  Being connected via internet to another source e.g, website. Data collected from people.