Experiments

What are the 2 types of experiments?

laboratory experiments

field experiments

Sociologists don’t often use __________ experiments as participants may not respond naturally

laboratory

KEY TERM

an experiment involving a setting and situation designed to test a hypothesis by trying to find correlations

laboratory experiment

KEY TERM

an assumption/proposition between 2 or more variables

hypothesis

The ability to control variables in the closed system of a laboratory helps the researcher judge whether correlation is _________ or coincidental

causation

What is an example of a laboratory experiment?

• Paul Piff (studied social class + driving behaviour)

• conducted lab. experiments to see if they produced similar results

• participants watch die rolled 5x on computer screen

• asked to add up rolls (always added to 12)

• told the higher the score, the greater the chance of $50 prize

• those reporting scores >12 usually UC

• in another experiment, UC chose to take sweets which would otherwise be given to kids

What is an example of a field experiment?

• Sissons studied impact of social class on stranger interaction

• actor stood outside Paddington Station & asked for directions

• actor’s dress varied from businessman —> labourer

• people more helpful to ‘businessman’

• however, could be that actor more confident as businessman

KEY TERM

the unintended effect of the experimenter on those being studied

experimenter bias

What is a key ethical issue with experiments?

• often involve deception

• necessary for experiment to work eg. Paul Piff’s UC participants would have acted better if knew decency + honesty being measured

What are the advantages of experiments?

• can control variables in lab.

• can provide quantitative data

• reliable (easy to replicate)

• field experiments = realistic setting

What are the disadvantages of experiments?

• lab. = artificial environment —> Hawthorne Effect

• can’t control variables in field experiment

• experimental effect + experimenter bias

• tasks participants perform may appear meaningless