types of experiments

What are the types of experiments

• lab

• Field

• Quasi

• Natural

Lb experiment

• controlled environment

• IV is changed by researcher

• Try to eliminate extraneous variables

Lab strength

• highly controlled so can establish a cause and effect

• High reliability as they can be easily repeated

Lab weakness

• lacks ecological validity

• Participants can guess the demand characteristics

Field experiments

• take place in natural everyday settings

• IV is manipulated by researcher

Field strength

• higher ecological validity

• Participants are less likely to guess demand characteristics

Field weakness

• not possible to control extraneous variables less easy to establish cause and effect

• Difficult to replicate

• Ethical issues - invasion of privacy

Natural experiments

• Takes places in a natural setting

• IV is not manipulated by researcher - it already exists

Natural strength

• high ecological validity

• Participants are less likely to demonstrate demand characteristics

Natural weakness

• can’t control extraneous variables

• Difficult to replicate

Quasi

• IV is based off of an existing characteristic that already occurs in participants

Quasi strength

• If it’s done the same as a lab then is has the same strengths as a lab experiment

• If it’s done the same as a field or natural then it’s the same as them

Quasi weakness

• differences in participant variables

• Can’t control extraneous variables

• Of done in a lab then it lacks ecological validity