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Research Methods Experimental Methods

This document discusses experimental methods in psychology, including laboratory experiments, field experiments, natural/quasi experiments, and provides an example of a proposed field experiment. [1] Laboratory experiments allow researchers to carefully control variables but lack real-world validity, while field experiments have greater real-world applicability but less control over variables. [2] Natural/quasi experiments study phenomena that occur naturally without researcher manipulation. [3] The proposed field experiment would examine whether people are more likely to lend money to a homeless person, casually dressed person, or business person asking for coffee money near a coffee shop.

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34 views3 pages

Research Methods Experimental Methods

This document discusses experimental methods in psychology, including laboratory experiments, field experiments, natural/quasi experiments, and provides an example of a proposed field experiment. [1] Laboratory experiments allow researchers to carefully control variables but lack real-world validity, while field experiments have greater real-world applicability but less control over variables. [2] Natural/quasi experiments study phenomena that occur naturally without researcher manipulation. [3] The proposed field experiment would examine whether people are more likely to lend money to a homeless person, casually dressed person, or business person asking for coffee money near a coffee shop.

Uploaded by

kapoormahek55
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Psychology Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Experimental Methods
Laboratory
• High level of control because researchers can
isolate cause and effect by controlling other
variables
• Psychologist decides where the experiment will
take place, the time, which participants, what
circumstances etc
• Always use a standardised procedure
• What examples of lab experiments do we know?
Milgram’s, Asche, Stanford.

Advantages Disadvantages
 Easy to replicate in lab settings.  Artificial setting
 There’s clear quantitative data.  Lacks ecological validity as its not
done in a real life setting.
 Demand characteristics
 High control over extraneous variables

Field Experiments
• Psychologist manipulates the independent variable
but the experiment takes place in a real-life setting.
• Field experiments are done in the everyday (i.e.
real life) environment of the participants. The
experimenter still manipulates the independent
variable, but in a real-life setting (so cannot really
control extraneous variables).
• E.g. Piliavin.

Advantages Disadvantages
Less chance of demand characteristics. Deception – participants unaware.
High ecological validity. Confidentiality/privacy breached.
Lack of informed consent.
Cannot ask for permission as they would show
demand characteristics.

Natural/Quasi Experiment
• Where the IV occurs naturally in real life – it’s already occurring.
• Researcher cannot create a difference for the purpose of the
experiment.
• IV may be age, gender or race.
Psychology Wednesday, 11 October 2023

• Some ideas that could be investigated using a natural experiment:


• The introduction of the smoking ban in the UK – has affected sales of cigarettes, or
the number of people dying from smoking-related illnesses.
• How people cope in a hurricane.
• Charlton et al (2000) investigated the effects of television on children’s behaviour.

Quasi
 Quasi experiments have an IV that is based on an existing difference between people.
 An experiment where participants

Advantages Disadvantages
Allow researchers to investigate behaviour that Less control from researcher of the extraneous
may be unethical to be created. variables.
Less chance of demand characteristics. Lack of consent.
Confidentiality/privacy breached.

Procedure
 Takes place in central london
 Friday at 5-6pm
 Near a Costa coffee shop
Psychology Wednesday, 11 October 2023

 Homeless man asks a random adult “hi I’m sorry to disturb you but I don’t have
any money right now and I could really use a coffee. Would you mind lending some
money for a coffee?
 Record response for 5 minutes
 Repeat this 4 more times
 Casual man asks a random adult “hi I’m sorry to disturb you but I don’t have any
money right now and I could really use a coffee. Would you mind lending some
money for a coffee?
 Record response for 5 minutes
 Repeat this 4 more times
 Business man asks a random adult “hi I’m sorry to disturb you but I don’t have any
money right now and I could really use a coffee. Would you mind lending some
money for a coffee?
 Record response for 5 minutes
 Repeat this 4 more times

Findings
 We predict that ½ of the responses to the homeless man would be of sympathy and
perhaps would give some money. However, the other half may not with a dismissive
tone and walk away.
 We also predict that 1/3 of the responses to the man dressed in casual wear would
be agreeable and would give the money in an act of compassion as they may not
have any perceived stereotypes about him.
 This would also be similar for the man dressed in business wear as they also would
not have any perceived negative stereotypes of them.
 However for both, the other 2/3 may not see them as needy or the coffee as a
necessity for them and may not seem as inclined to help.

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