Experiments

• What are the three types of experiments?

  Laboratory, field and comparative
• Comparative experiment: A thought experiment carried out in the researchers mind, the identify two groups that are alike and see how one variable can affect them. E.G. Durkheim making predictions on who is most likely to commit suicide.
• Hawthorne effect: People no longer act naturally because they know that they are being watched.
• Lab experiment: A type of experiment that takes place in a highly controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the variable. E.G. Milgram's obedience experiment.
• Field experiment: Takes place in the subjects natural environment, those involved are normally unaware of the researchers intentions. E.G. Rosenthal and Jacobson's self fulfilling prophecy experiment.
• Lab experiment evaluation:

  • Strength- Highly reliable. (T)
  • Strength- Easy to control extraneous variables. (P)
  • Limitation- Cannot be used to study the past. (P)
  • Limitation- Small-scale so not representative. (P)
  • Limitation- Hard to gain informed consent, leads to deception. (E)
  • Limitation- May cause harm to participants. (E)
  • Limitation- Hawthorne effect. (P)
  • Limitation- Interpretivists reject lab experiments. (T)
• Field experiment evaluation:

  • Strength- Highly valid (T)
  • Strength- Natural environment, no Hawthorne effect. (P)
  • Limitation- Low reliability due to less control. (T)
  • Limitation- Positivists would reject them. (T)
  • Limitation- Would lead to deception. (E)
• Comparative experiment evaluation:

  • Strength- Avoids artificial stimuli. (P)
  • Strength- Can be used to study past events. (P)
  • Strength- No ethical problems. (E)
  • Limitation- May introduce researcher bias. (P)