Experiment where there is a high level of control on the
environmental factors and experience of
participants by using standardised procedures.
Independent variable is manipulated by the researcher
with the DV being measured..This experiment can
establish a cause and effect relationship between IV
What is a lab experiment and what are its pros
and DV, showing high internal validity. Lab studies are
and cons?
easily replicated due to standardised procedures.
However, can lack ecological validity- cannot be applied to
real-world situations, lacks mundane
realism. Participants are also aware they are in the study,
so can lead to demand characteristics,
changing behaviour to match the aim.
Experiment conducted in real-world setting to avoid
artificial nature of lab studies.
This experiment has higher ecological validity as can be
applied to other naturalistic settings. Tasks
are more likely to have mundane realism and participants
What is a field experiment and what are its pros are unaware they are participants, so
and cons? won't show demand characteristics.
However, lack control over extraneous variables influences
measurement of dependent variable.
Also, difficult to randomly assign participants to separate
conditions- can result in participant
variables affecting results.
The IV affecting the DV would occur without the influence
of the researcher, the researcher simply
records the change in the dependent variable.
Allows research that could not happen in controlled
conditions due to ethical reasons. High in
What is a natural experiment and what are its
external validity are real behaviour occurring in the real
pros and cons?
world free of demand characteristics.
However, extraneous variables cannot be controlled,
cannot claim cause and effect relationship.
Events often rare and cannot be replicated exactly to test
reliability.
, In the experiment, participants cannot be randomly
assigned into groups often because its an
innate characteristic e.g. looking at differences in gender,
age, personality. Characteristics already
exist in the sample.
What is a quasi-experiment and what are its pros Quasi-experiments are the only way to experimentally
and cons? study factors that are pre-existing
characteristics.
Other factors related to characteristics cannot be
controlled- alter measurement of dependant
variable- confounding variable e.g. men and women may
be educated differently.
Researcher watches and records natural behaviour taking
place in the real world.
Has high realism as participants more likely to show
What is a naturalistic observation and what are its
naturalistic behaviour- ecological validity,
pros and cons?
more likely to be generalisable to other situations.
However, may be uncontrolled extraneous behaviour
affecting situation.
Observation where aspects of the environment are
controlled, attempting to standardise
experience, often in a lab setting.
What is a controlled observation and what are its This reduces the chance of extraneous variables
pros and cons? responsible for observed behaviour and the use
of standardised procedure makes study likely reliable.
However, lack of ecological validity due to environment-
may result in unusual behaviour.
, Researcher joins the group being observed, taking part in
group activities/conversations
Researcher can build rapport causing more trust leading to
What is a participant observation and what are its
more natural behaviour and disclosure.
pros and cons?
However, can lose objectivity- interpretation of behaviour is
biassed, may only see from
participant's perspective.
Researcher is separate from participants- more likely to
remain objective in their interpretation of
What is a non-participant observation and what
participant's behaviour. Lack of trust/rapport important
are its pros and cons?
insight into participants has been missed
out on.
Participants can see the researcher and are aware
behaviour is being observed.
What is an overt observation and what are the
This is ethical as upholds informed consent. However,
pros and cons?
demand characteristics are likely- may lead
to social desirability bias.
, Participants are unaware they are being observed, more
What is a covert observation and what are the likely to show naturalistic behaviour free
pros and cons? from demand characteristics. More unethical as cannot
give informed consent.
Researchers record relevant behaviour at set points.
What is time sampling? However, this can mean behaviour is
missed that is outside recording periods.
Researcher records every time a behaviour occurs from
What is event sampling?
operationalised behavioural categories.
environmental factors and experience of
participants by using standardised procedures.
Independent variable is manipulated by the researcher
with the DV being measured..This experiment can
establish a cause and effect relationship between IV
What is a lab experiment and what are its pros
and DV, showing high internal validity. Lab studies are
and cons?
easily replicated due to standardised procedures.
However, can lack ecological validity- cannot be applied to
real-world situations, lacks mundane
realism. Participants are also aware they are in the study,
so can lead to demand characteristics,
changing behaviour to match the aim.
Experiment conducted in real-world setting to avoid
artificial nature of lab studies.
This experiment has higher ecological validity as can be
applied to other naturalistic settings. Tasks
are more likely to have mundane realism and participants
What is a field experiment and what are its pros are unaware they are participants, so
and cons? won't show demand characteristics.
However, lack control over extraneous variables influences
measurement of dependent variable.
Also, difficult to randomly assign participants to separate
conditions- can result in participant
variables affecting results.
The IV affecting the DV would occur without the influence
of the researcher, the researcher simply
records the change in the dependent variable.
Allows research that could not happen in controlled
conditions due to ethical reasons. High in
What is a natural experiment and what are its
external validity are real behaviour occurring in the real
pros and cons?
world free of demand characteristics.
However, extraneous variables cannot be controlled,
cannot claim cause and effect relationship.
Events often rare and cannot be replicated exactly to test
reliability.
, In the experiment, participants cannot be randomly
assigned into groups often because its an
innate characteristic e.g. looking at differences in gender,
age, personality. Characteristics already
exist in the sample.
What is a quasi-experiment and what are its pros Quasi-experiments are the only way to experimentally
and cons? study factors that are pre-existing
characteristics.
Other factors related to characteristics cannot be
controlled- alter measurement of dependant
variable- confounding variable e.g. men and women may
be educated differently.
Researcher watches and records natural behaviour taking
place in the real world.
Has high realism as participants more likely to show
What is a naturalistic observation and what are its
naturalistic behaviour- ecological validity,
pros and cons?
more likely to be generalisable to other situations.
However, may be uncontrolled extraneous behaviour
affecting situation.
Observation where aspects of the environment are
controlled, attempting to standardise
experience, often in a lab setting.
What is a controlled observation and what are its This reduces the chance of extraneous variables
pros and cons? responsible for observed behaviour and the use
of standardised procedure makes study likely reliable.
However, lack of ecological validity due to environment-
may result in unusual behaviour.
, Researcher joins the group being observed, taking part in
group activities/conversations
Researcher can build rapport causing more trust leading to
What is a participant observation and what are its
more natural behaviour and disclosure.
pros and cons?
However, can lose objectivity- interpretation of behaviour is
biassed, may only see from
participant's perspective.
Researcher is separate from participants- more likely to
remain objective in their interpretation of
What is a non-participant observation and what
participant's behaviour. Lack of trust/rapport important
are its pros and cons?
insight into participants has been missed
out on.
Participants can see the researcher and are aware
behaviour is being observed.
What is an overt observation and what are the
This is ethical as upholds informed consent. However,
pros and cons?
demand characteristics are likely- may lead
to social desirability bias.
, Participants are unaware they are being observed, more
What is a covert observation and what are the likely to show naturalistic behaviour free
pros and cons? from demand characteristics. More unethical as cannot
give informed consent.
Researchers record relevant behaviour at set points.
What is time sampling? However, this can mean behaviour is
missed that is outside recording periods.
Researcher records every time a behaviour occurs from
What is event sampling?
operationalised behavioural categories.
