IB Psych: Research Methods and Ethics

Identify 3 characteristics of a laboratory experiment.

• It takes place in a laboratory

• The researcher manipulates the IV and controls all other variables

• The IV is naturally occurring

• There is a controlled environment and standardized procedures.

Identify 3 strengths of a laboratory experiment.

• It can establish cause-effect relationships

• There is variable control and accuracy of measurements

• It is easy to replicate, which increases the reliability of results.

• It has ecological validity because it focuses on natural behavior in a natural environment

Identify 3 limitations of a laboratory experiment

• It is impossible to establish cause-effect relationship

• Artificiality may result in lack of ecological validity

• Results may be biased because of demand characteristics and experimenter effects

• Sometimes deception is necessary (ethical issue)

Select 3 characteristics of a field experiment.

• It takes place in a natural environment

• The researcher controls all the variables

• It is impossible to obtain total control so there may be confounding variables

• The researcher manipulates the independent variable

Identify 2 strengths of a field experiment.

• It has more ecological validity than lab experiments because behavior occurs in a natural environment.

• It can establish cause-effect relationships

• It is easy to replicate

• There are fewer demand characteristics

Identify 3 limitations of a field experiment

• There is a risk of bias from confounding variables because there is less control

• It is nearly impossible to replicate exactly

• It is difficult to record data accurately

• Artificiality may result in lack of ecological validity

Identify 2 characteristics of a natural experiment.

• The research manipulates the IV

• The IV is naturally occurring

• There is a controlled environment and standardized procedure

• The researcher does not manipulate the variables but records possible effects of a variable on another variable

Identify 2 strengths of a natural experiment

• It has ecological validity- natural behavior in a natural environment

• It is easy to replicate

• There is very little bias from demand characteristics (especially if participants don't know they are being investigated)

• There is variable control and objectivity

Identify 3 limitations of a natural experiment

• It is impossible to establish cause-effect relationship

• Results may be biased because of demand characteristics

• The research is impossible to replicate exactly (often case studies)

• There are ethical issues of consent, deception, and invasion of privacy

Bandura et al. 1961: Investigating the reaction of children after watching either an adult model acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll or not acting aggressively towards the Bobo doll is an example of what kind of experiment?

• Laboratory experiment (true experiment)

• Field experiment

• Natural experiment

• Qualitative data