2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology - Research Methods: Experimental Methods - Lab Field Natural Quasi - KB
Lab experiments take place in a highly controlled environment, such as a laboratory or research setting. This allows researchers to carefully manage variables and establish clear cause-and-effect relationships.
Where do Lab experiments take place?
A highly controlled environment
Key Terms
Where do Lab experiments take place?
A highly controlled environment
What variable is manipulated in a lab experiment?
Independent variable
Why does the researcher manipulate the independent variable in a lab experiment?
To measure the effect on the dependent variable
One strength of a lab experiment is high levels of control over extraneous variables, why is this?
It is carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in the exam answer)
If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, why is this a strength?
There is high control over extraneous variables
Why are lab experiments high in reliability?
Due to the control, the experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Where do Lab experiments take place? | A highly controlled environment |
What variable is manipulated in a lab experiment? | Independent variable |
Why does the researcher manipulate the independent variable in a lab experiment? | To measure the effect on the dependent variable |
One strength of a lab experiment is high levels of control over extraneous variables, why is this? | It is carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in the exam answer) |
If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, why is this a strength? | There is high control over extraneous variables |
Why are lab experiments high in reliability? | Due to the control, the experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results |
If the lab experiment can be easily repeated in the same conditions to check for consistent results, what does this mean? | It is high in reliability |
Why are lab experiments low in ecological validity? | They are carried out in an artificial environment (contextualise in an exam) |
What type of validity is lowered if a lab experiment lacks ecological validity? | External Validity |
If a lab experiment is carried out in an artificial environment, what validity is lowered? | Ecological validity |
Why is a lab experiment prone to demand characteristics? | The participants may change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher which can help or hinder the researcher, which reduces internal validity |
When the participants change their natural behaviour based on the clues given off by the researcher in a lab experiment, what is meant by this? | Demand characteristics |
What type of experiment takes place in a natural environment e.g. an office or a school, but the researcher manipulates the IV? | Field experiment |
What is a Field experiment? | An experiment that place in a natural environment such as an office or a school where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the DV |
Which experimental method takes place in PPTs natural environment whereby the researcher manipulate the IV and measure the DV? | Field experiment |
What type of experimental method was Lorenz’s study? | Field experiment |
Why might a field experiment be less prone to demand characteristics? | PPTs might not know they are being watched; therefore they are less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour |
Identify a strength of a field experiment | Less prone to demand characteristics OR High ecological validity |
Why has a field experiment been praised for high internal validity? | PPTs might not know they are being watched, therefore less likely to guess clues and change their natural behaviour, increasing the internal validity |
Field experiments have been praised for high external validity - why is this? | It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings. |
Why does a field experiment have high ecological validity? | It is based in a real life setting therefore easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings, increasing the external validity |
Why might a field experiment be low in reliability? | As it’s carried out in natural environment, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results |
Why might it be difficult to replicate a field experiment? | The environment is natural to the PPTs, it is difficult to repeat the study with the exact same conditions and check for consistency in results |
Why has a field experiment been criticised for being unethical? | Lack of informed consent as people are unaware of being studied so wouldn’t have given their consent |
Other than low in reliability - what other problems are their with a field experiments? | Ethical issues |
What is a natural experiment? | Where the researcher takes advantage of a naturally occurring IV (EVENT) |
In what type of experimental method does the researcher take advantage of the naturally occurring IV? | Natural experiment |
A researcher measured the stress levels in local residents of a town before an earthquake and following the earthquake What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m) | Natural experiment |
What experimental method was used in Rutter's study on Romanian orphans? | Natural experiment |
Why might natural experiments have high external validity? | They are often based in real life settings and therefore it is easier to generalise the findings beyond the setting of the study to other similar settings |
Why do natural experiments contribute to wider psychological understanding of human behaviour? | Natural experiments provide opportunities for research that may not otherwise be undertaken for practical / ethical reasons |
Are natural experiments reliable? | No - Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results |
Why are natural experiments unreliable? | Events may only happen rarely which limits opportunities for research - meaning it is unlikely you can repeat the study and check for consistency in results |
In a natural experiment, researchers have high control over extraneous variables. TRUE / FALSE | False |
Why might researchers have little control over extraneous variables in a field experiment? | As it's a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV |
Why have natural experiments been criticised for lacking internal validity? | As it's a natural experiment, taking place in a natural environment, difficult to establish cause and effect between IV and DV - lowering the internal validity. |
Define a quasi experiment | An experiment which has an IV based on an existing individual difference between people (characteristic), which is not manipulated by the researcher |
Age / Gender These are examples of an existing individual difference between people which the researcher has not manipulated. TRUE / FALSE | True |
A researcher compared the heart rate of people with a phobia of a spider to the heart rate of people without a phobia when showed a picture of a spider. What type of experimental method was used in this study? (1m) | Quasi (1m) |
Identify a weakness of a quasi experiment | Sample bias - The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity |
Why might a quasi experiment suffer from sample bias? | The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity |
Why might a quasi experiment be criticised for low external validity? | The sample being studied might have unique characteristics - making it difficult to generalise findings to target population, decreasing the external validity |