AO1 - Types of Experimental Methods

• Lab experiments: an experiment conducted in a lab which is a highly controlled environment (1) where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV (1)
• An example of a lab experiment is Zimbardo or Milgram
• Field experiments: An experiment which takes place in a natural environment (for the participants) such as an office or school (1) where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the effect on the DV (1)
• An example of a field experiment is Lorenz
• Field experiments are the opposite to lab experiments
• Natural experiments: The researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (event) (1). This is a natural experiment because the variable would have changed even if the experimenter was not interested (1)

  • e.g. natural disasters, COVID 19
• An example of a natural experiment is Rutter's research into institutionalisation
• Quasi experiments: An experiment which has an IV based on existing individual differences between people (1) which the researcher has not manipulated e.g. age or gender (1) and the researcher measures the effect on the DV
• Quasi experiments are based on pre existing characteristics