field experiments and the comparative method

A field experiment has two features that distinguish it from a laboratory experiment- what are they ?

A field experiment has two features that distinguish it from a laboratory experiment:

• It takes place in the subject's natural surroundings rather than in an artificial laboratory environment.

• Those involved are generally not aware that they are the subjects of an experiment, in which case there is no Hawthorne Effect.

• The researcher m_____ one or more of the v____ in the situation to see what effect it has on , u____ subjects are people who don’t realise they’re part of an experiment.

• For example, in R____ (1973) 'p____ experiment, Researchers faked what to gain admission to what and were diagnosed with s___.

• Once inside, they behaved n____, yet staff still treated them as what

• This showed it was the label of ‘s____’, not their b___, that shaped staff r___.

• The researcher manipulates one or more of the variables in the situation to see what effect it has on , unaware subjects are people who don’t realise they’re part of an experiment.

• For example, in Rosenhan's (1973) 'pseudopatient experiment, Researchers faked hearing voices to gain admission to 12 mental hospitals and were diagnosed with schizophrenia.

• Once inside, they behaved normally, yet staff still treated them as mentally ill.

• This showed it was the label of ‘schizophrenic’, not their behaviour, that shaped staff responses.

field experiments- Evaluation

✓- Rosenhan's study shows the v____ of field experiments. They are more 'n___', v___ and r____, and they avoid what

✘- However, the more r___ we make the situation, the less c___ we have over the variables that might be operating.If so, we cannot be certain of what

✘- why do Some critics also argue that field experiments are unethical

field experiments- Evaluation

✓- Rosenhan's study shows the value of field experiments. They are more 'natural', valid and realistic, and they avoid the artificiality of laboratory experiments.

✘- However, the more realistic we make the situation, the less control we have over the variables that might be operating.If so, we cannot be certain that the causes we have identified are the correct ones.

✘- Some critics also argue that field experiments are unethical, since they involve carrying out an experiment on their subjects without their knowledge or consent.

the comparative method

• Unlike other experiments, the comparative method is carried out where

• It is a 't____ e____' and it does not involve the researcher actually doing what

• However, like laboratory and field experiments, it too is designed to discover what

• . It works as follows:

  • Step 1: i____ t___ groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for the one variable we are interested in.

  • Step 2: Then c____ the two groups to see if this one difference between them has any effect.

the comparative method

• Unlike other experiments, the comparative method is carried out only in the mind of the sociologist.

• It is a 'thought experiment' and it does not involve the researcher actually experimenting on real people at all.

• However, like laboratory and field experiments, it too is designed to discover cause-and-effect relationships. It works as follows:

  • Step 1: Identify two groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for the one variable we are interested in.

  • Step 2: Then compare the two groups to see if this one difference between them has any effect.

the comparative method - Durkheim's study of suicide

• An example of the comparative method is Emile Durkheim's (1897) classic study of suicide.

• Durkheim's hypothesis was that what caused high rates of suicide.

• He argued that which group produced higher levels of integration than which other group ?. From this, he therefore predicted that which group would have a higher suicide rate than which other got up .

• Durkheim then tested his prediction by comparing what

• His prediction was supported by the o____ s____, which showed C____ to have lower suicide rates.

the comparative method - Durkheim's study of suicide

• An example of the comparative method is Emile Durkheim's (1897) classic study of suicide.

• Durkheim's hypothesis was that low levels of integration of individuals into social groups caused high rates of suicide.

• He argued that Catholicism produced higher levels of integration than Protestantism. From this, he therefore predicted that Protestants would have a higher suicide rate than Catholics.

• Durkheim then tested his prediction by comparing the suicide rates of Catholics and Protestants who were similar in all other important respects (e.g., in terms of where they lived, whether they were married or single etc).

• His prediction was supported by the official statistics, which showed Catholics to have lower suicide rates.

the comparative method - Evaluation

• ✓- in seeking to discover cause-and-effect relationships, the comparative method has three advantages:

1. it avoids artificiality

2. it can be used to study past events

3. it poses no ethical problems, such as harming subjects.

〤- However, the comparative method gives the researcher even less control over variables than do field experiments, so we can be even less certain whether a thought experiment really has discovered the cause of something.

the comparative method - Evaluation

• ✓- in seeking to discover cause-and-effect relationships, the comparative method has three advantages- what are they ?

〤- However, the comparative method gives the researcher even less c____ over v___ than do field experiments, so we can be even less certain of what?