experimental methods

• What is the method used in a laboratory experiment?

  Laboratory Experiment
• What is manipulated by the researcher in a laboratory experiment?

  Independent Variable (IV)
• What type of environment is a laboratory experiment conducted in?

  Controlled environment
• What is measured in a laboratory experiment?

  Dependent Variable (DV)
• What are the advantages of using laboratory experiments?

  • High internal validity due to tight controls over extraneous variables
  • Ability to manipulate the IV for precise research questions
  • Easier replicability of results
  • Higher confidence in generalizability of findings
  • Random assignment reduces participant variable confounding
• What does high internal validity in laboratory experiments allow researchers to find?

  Strong cause and effect relationships
• Why is replicability important in laboratory experiments?

  It allows researchers to check that results have not happened by chance alone
• What can lead to low internal validity in laboratory experiments?

  Artificiality and demand characteristics
• What does low ecological validity mean in the context of laboratory experiments?

  Results may not accurately reflect real-life behavior
• What is a key characteristic of a field experiment?

  It is conducted in a natural environment
• What is the main advantage of field experiments compared to laboratory experiments?

  Higher ecological validity
• What does the lack of control in field experiments lead to?

  Low internal validity
• What is a natural experiment characterized by?

  The IV is not manipulated by the researcher
• What allows researchers to investigate areas that would be unethical or impractical to manipulate in natural experiments?

  The naturally occurring change in circumstances
• What is a key disadvantage of natural experiments?

  Lack of control over extraneous variables
• What is a quasi-experiment characterized by?

  The IV is not manipulated by the researcher
• What can the IV in a quasi-experiment be attributed to?

  A difference in pre-existing characteristics of the participants
• What are the potential advantages and weaknesses of quasi-experiments?


  Advantages:

  • Can investigate areas unethical or impractical to manipulate

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Depend on whether it is a lab, field, or natural experiment