natural experiments

natural experiments

• an experiment where the change in the IV is not brought about by the researcher and would have happened if the researcher was not there

• research records the effect on the DV they have chosen

ethical issues - strength

• provides opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical or ethical reasons

• e.g. romanian orphans

validity - strength

• high external validity as it involves study of real world issues and problems as they happen

• e.g. natural disasters or stress

generalisability - limitation

• a naturally occurring event may only happen rarely, reducing opportunity for research

• lack of generalisability

demand characteristics + realism - limitation

• participants may not be randomly allocated to experimental conditions

• researcher may be less sure whether the IV affected DV

• e.g. romanian orphan studies, IV was whether they were adopted earlier or later

• lots of other differences e.g. socialisability

• may lack realism and have demand characteristics