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Research Methods

Experiments, interviews and questionnaires

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 01 and 02

Overview

Laboratory, field and natural experiments, structured and unstructured interviews, open and closed questions and rating scales, and primary and secondary data.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is an unstructured interview?

Key term

What is a laboratory experiment?

Evaluation

Give one strength and one weakness of a laboratory experiment.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is a laboratory experiment?

    Model answer

    A laboratory experiment takes place in a controlled, artificial setting where the researcher manipulates the independent variable. Extraneous variables are tightly controlled.

  2. 2

    Give one strength and one weakness of a laboratory experiment.

    Model answer

    A strength is that high control allows cause and effect to be established and the study to be replicated. A weakness is low ecological validity, because the setting and tasks are artificial.

  3. 3

    What is a field experiment?

    Model answer

    A field experiment takes place in a natural, everyday setting, but the researcher still manipulates the independent variable. Participants often do not know they are being studied.

  4. 4

    Give one strength and one weakness of a field experiment.

    Model answer

    A strength is higher ecological validity, as people behave naturally in a real setting. A weakness is less control over extraneous variables, such as weather or passers-by.

  5. 5

    What is a natural experiment?

    Model answer

    A natural experiment studies an independent variable that varies naturally, without the researcher changing it. An example is comparing students' sleep in the weeks before and after the clocks go forward.

  6. 6

    Give one strength and one weakness of a natural experiment.

    Model answer

    A strength is that variables can be studied that would be unethical or impossible to manipulate. A weakness is that participants cannot be randomly allocated, so other differences may explain the results.

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