AQA Psychology (A-Level) - Research
Methods - Types of experiments2
Lab(oratory) experiments - ANSWERS-These tend to make control easier but are less natural,
especially because participants are aware that they are being studied.
Field experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be more natural and more representative of everyday life
but this means less control and greater ethical problems.
Natural experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be conducted when it is not possible, for ethical or
practical reasons, to deliberately manipulate an IV.
Quasi experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be conducted when the IV has not been made to vary by
anyone, but is simply a difference between people that exist.
Advantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-The experimenter has control over research
variables, therefore they are, by their very nature, contrived.
Advantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-High in internal validity, as we can be more certain
that any observed change in the DV IS due to the IV.
Disadvantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-Often low in ecological validity, not because of the
contrived environment, but because participants know they are being studied, causing demand
characteristics.
Advantage of a field experiment - ANSWERS-Participants are not aware they are taking part in a
study, and so their behavior is more ordinary; the experimenter has the chance to control
participant variables and there is a low chance of there being demand characteristics.
Methods - Types of experiments2
Lab(oratory) experiments - ANSWERS-These tend to make control easier but are less natural,
especially because participants are aware that they are being studied.
Field experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be more natural and more representative of everyday life
but this means less control and greater ethical problems.
Natural experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be conducted when it is not possible, for ethical or
practical reasons, to deliberately manipulate an IV.
Quasi experiments - ANSWERS-Tend to be conducted when the IV has not been made to vary by
anyone, but is simply a difference between people that exist.
Advantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-The experimenter has control over research
variables, therefore they are, by their very nature, contrived.
Advantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-High in internal validity, as we can be more certain
that any observed change in the DV IS due to the IV.
Disadvantage of a lab experiment - ANSWERS-Often low in ecological validity, not because of the
contrived environment, but because participants know they are being studied, causing demand
characteristics.
Advantage of a field experiment - ANSWERS-Participants are not aware they are taking part in a
study, and so their behavior is more ordinary; the experimenter has the chance to control
participant variables and there is a low chance of there being demand characteristics.
