How does a field experiment differ from a laboratory experiment?

A field experiment takes place in a natural, everyday setting rather than a laboratory. The researcher still manipulates the IV, but participants are often unaware they are being studied.

Give one strength and one weakness of field experiments.

Field experiments have higher ecological validity because people behave naturally in a familiar setting. Extraneous variables are harder to control, and participants often cannot give informed consent.

What is a natural experiment?

A natural experiment studies an IV that varies naturally, without the researcher manipulating it. The researcher measures the effect of that naturally occurring IV on a DV.

Edexcel GCSE Psychology 1PS0

Development

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Memory

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Criminal PsychologyOptional topic

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Research Methods

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Research Methods

Experiments and experimental designs

3 things to know
Papers 1 and 2

Overview

Laboratory, field and natural experiments, independent measures, repeated measures and matched pairs designs, and how design affects reliability and validity.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What are the main features of a laboratory experiment?

Evaluation

Give one strength and one weakness of laboratory experiments.

Key term

What kinds of research suit laboratory experiments, and what kinds suit field experiments?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What are the main features of a laboratory experiment?
Model answer
A laboratory experiment takes place in a controlled, artificial setting. The researcher manipulates the IV and measures its effect on the DV under standardised conditions.
2
Give one strength and one weakness of laboratory experiments.
Model answer
Laboratory experiments control extraneous variables tightly, so cause and effect can be established and the study repeated. The artificial setting and tasks can lack ecological validity.
3
What kinds of research suit laboratory experiments, and what kinds suit field experiments?
Model answer
Laboratory experiments suit research needing precise measurement of cause and effect, such as reaction-time tests. Field experiments suit research on everyday social behaviour, such as whether strangers help each other.
4
How does a field experiment differ from a laboratory experiment?
Model answer
A field experiment takes place in a natural, everyday setting rather than a laboratory. The researcher still manipulates the IV, but participants are often unaware they are being studied.
5
Give one strength and one weakness of field experiments.
Model answer
Field experiments have higher ecological validity because people behave naturally in a familiar setting. Extraneous variables are harder to control, and participants often cannot give informed consent.
6
What is a natural experiment?
Model answer
A natural experiment studies an IV that varies naturally, without the researcher manipulating it. The researcher measures the effect of that naturally occurring IV on a DV.

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