Types of experiment

• Laboratory experiment: An experiment taking place in a controlled environment where the IV is manipulated to record the effect on the DV
• Field experiment: An experiment taking place in a natural setting where the IV is manipulated to record the effect on the DV
• Natural experiment: An experiment where the change in the IV is brought about naturally and the effect on the DV is recorded
• Quasi-experiment: An experiment where the IV has not been determined and the variables simply exist
• Where is a laboratory experiment conducted?

  A controlled environment
• Where is a field experiment conducted?

  A natural, everyday setting - participant's usual environment
• Strengths: Laboratory experiments

  High control over confounding/extraneous variables - high internal validity

  Replication more possible
• Limitations: Laboratory experiments

  Lack generalisability - low external validity

  Demand characteristics

  Low mundane realism
• Strengths: Field experiments

  High mundane realism - high external validity
• Limitations: Field experiments

  Less control over confounding/extraneous variables

  Less replicability

  Ethical issues - consent. privacy
• Strengths: Natural experiments

  Opportunities for research otherwise unpractical/unethical

  High external validity
• Limitations: Natural experiments

  May not be randomly allocated

  Can lack realism

  Demand characteristics
• Strengths: Quasi-experiments

  Controlled conditions

  Replication
• Limitations: Quasi-experiments

  IV not deliberately changed
• A natural experiment can be in a lab or the field
• In a natural experiment, the researcher has no control over the IV and cannot change it
• In a natural experiment, it is the IV that is natural, not necessarily the setting
• What are the four types of experiment?

  Laboratory, field, natural, quasi