Experiments

Summary

Characterized by its high degree of control that the researcher has over the situation, controls the variables, two main types include laboratory and field experiments

Laboratory experiments

✅- highly reliable (can specify the steps that were followed

✅- can easily identify cause and effect relationships

❌- artificiality - highly artificial environment and may not reflect the real world

❌- the Hawthorne effect - not a natural environment so people may act differently

Field experiments

✅- less artificiality - real-world situations

✅- validity - people are unaware of the experimental situation so no Hawthorne effect

❌- ethical issues around informed consent

❌- limited application to social situations

No

No