Field experiments

• field experiment definitions

  a field experiment has two features that distingish it from lab: takes place in subjects natural surrounding and generally not aware
• features of field experiment

  • qualitive
  • represnritive likley
  • reliable
  • interpetivists
• pratcial strengths

  • large scale settings
  • a esearcher can set up field experimetn and leave
• practicle limitations

  • schools and workplaces may be reluctant to let researchers in
  • may be expensize
• how can practicle limitations be overcome

  • pick a time where research is avaluble
• ethical strengths

  consent can be withdrew and informed consent

  all legal
• ethical limitations


  involve carrying out experiment on the subject without knowledge

  deception

  in schools legal right for children
• how can ethical limitations be overcome


  if research is completed can make is annoymous
• theoretical strengths

  • have more validity lab experiments
  • establish casual relations
• theoretical limtitions

  not possible to control varivles as closey compared to lab

  reliablitity is weaker

  hawthorne effc
• how can theoretical limitations be overcome


  allow in a field which can be controlled

  switch methods
• rosenthal and jabson

  • investigate whether teachers expect of affect pupils preformance in education
• durkheim


  study of suicide- use comparitive method