lab experiments

what are lab experiments?

• conducted in an artificial setting using highly controlled variables

whats an example of a lab experiment?

• the bobo doll experiment and the standford university prison experiment

what is a practical advantage of a lab experiment?

• allow research to control variables precisely, making it easier to establish cause and effect relationships

what is a practical disadvantage of lab experiments?

• expensive

• time consuming

• need specialised equipment

• controlled environments

what are ethical advantages of lab expeirments?

researchers:

• gain informed consent

• minimise harm (but some have raised ethical concerns)

what are ethical disadvantages of lab experiments?

• may involve deception or phycological distress

what is an advantage of reliability for lab experiments?

• highly replicable

• repeatable under same conditions to verify results

what is a disadvantage of reliability for lab experiements?

• human behaviors complex

• responses may differ across diff contexts

what is an advantage for validity in lab experiments?

• high internal validity bc variables controlled

what is a disadvantage of validity for lab experiments?

• low external validity bc artificial settings may not reflect real life interactions

are lab experiments representative?

• no, small scale

• not generalisable to wider populations

which theorists favours lab experiments?

• positivists - scientific and objective nature

• interpretivists criticise them for lacking depth

What is the Hawthorne effect and why is it a problem for lab experiements?

• If people know they are being studied they will behave differently

• People may act accordingly to what they believe the researcher wants and not truthfully - no longer valid info

Issues with Bandura’s Bobo experiment?

• Lack of informed consent

• Psychological and physical distress - protection from harm

• Encouraging agressive behaviour