the experimenral method

What are the four kinds of experiment

Lab, field, natural and quasi

Define a lab experiment

Controlled environment where a researcher manipulates an iv

Define natural experiment

A natural environment where a researcher does not manipulate an iv but rather just observes

Define field experiment

A natural environment where a researcher manipulates an iv

Define a quasi experiment

A study where the iv is pre existing and it is investigated, such as gender,

Define ecological validity

How well something reflects real life

Define internal validity

How well controlled an experiment is so that the results can be used in real life

Strengths of a lab experiment

• can assume cause and effect

• Replicable= reliable

• Controlled EV’s = high internal validly

Weaknesses of a lab experiment

-low ecological validly

-demand characteristics

-lacks realism

• Strengths of a field experiment

• No demand characteristics

• High ecological validity

  
  

• Weakness of field experiment

• Unethical

• Low internal validity

• Irreplicable = unreliable

Strengths of a natural experiment

-helps us study unethical topics

-No demand characteristics

-high ecological validity

Weaknesses of a natural experiment

-can’t assume cause and effect

-low internal validity

-irreplicable= unreliable

Strengths of quasi experiment

-Controlled lab quasi= cause + effect, replicable and high internal validity

-allows to compare naturally occurring ivs such as gender

Weakness or quasi experiment

-can’t do random allocation

-quasi lab = low ecological validly

-demand characteristics