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Research Methods in psychology
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Lecture notes on research methods in psychology for first years students.
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Experiment types:Laboratory experiments: These are carried out in incredibly controlled settings. The
researcher plays with the IV while observing the results of the DV. A lab experiment can
assign participants to conditions at random. Therefore, a lab experiment is regarded as a
"true" experiment.
Benefits of laboratory experiments
High level of control over auxiliary variables, allowing for the establishment of cause and
effect and the potential for replication. Additionally, results can be verified for accuracy.
The following are some restrictions on lab experiments: Participants frequently know they
are being tested; potential demand characteristics.
Artificial environment suggests that it might not be generalizable.
If the experiment is not double-blind, which means that neither the participant nor the
researcher conducting it are aware of the investigation's goals, there may be investigator
effects.
Experiments in the field
Although the experiment is carried out in a real-world setting, the researcher still
manipulates the IV and records the effects on the DV.
Field experiments have the following advantages: • High ecological validity because they are
carried out in a real-world environment; • More likely to reflect actual behaviour. (less
demand characteristics).
Field experiments have the following drawbacks: There is less control over auxiliary
variables.
They are typically less controlled, making it difficult to fully replicate them, and there may
be ethical concerns if participants are unaware they are being studied.
Natural experiments: In a natural experiment, the researcher makes use of an IV that occurs
in nature to observe how it affects the DV. The IV has not been directly altered by the
experimenter; whether or not the researcher was interested, the IV would change naturally.
Participants cannot be assigned to conditions at random and/or the IV is not under the
researcher's control. This experiment isn't a "real" one.
Strengths of Natural Experiment: Allows for research that might not otherwise be done for
practical or ethical reasons, such as whether smoking during pregnancy causes behavioural
issues in young children.
Because they involve the study of real-life, they have a high level of external validity.
Limitations of Natural Experiments: Occasionally, a naturally occurring event prevents
generalisation to other circumstances.
Studies that are "almost" experiments are called quasi-experiments. The IV is merely a
difference between people that exists; it is not something that changes in any way. The
effects of this "quasi-IV" on the DV are noted by the researcher.
Participants cannot be assigned to conditions at random and/or the IV is not under the
researcher's control. Additionally, this is not a "real" experiment.
Examples include studies where the independent variable (IV) is a factor like age, gender,
locus of control, etc.
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