Psychological Research Methods: Types of Experiments

Introduction

• Overview of different types of experiments: lab, field, natural, and quasi.
• Importance of understanding research terminology.
• Encouragement to watch videos multiple times for better understanding.

Laboratory Experiments

• Definition: Experiments conducted in controlled settings.
• Key Features:
  • Full control over environmental factors (variables).
  • Only the independent variable is manipulated.
  • Measurement of dependent variable changes due to the independent variable.
• Advantages:
  • High internal validity due to controlled variables.
  • Replicability with standardized procedures increases confidence in findings.
• Disadvantages:
  • May lack external validity (ecological validity) as lab settings differ from real-world environments.
  • Tasks might lack mundane realism.
  • Participants may exhibit demand characteristics due to awareness of being in an experiment.

Field Experiments

• Definition: Conducted in real-world settings such as shopping centers, schools, workplaces.
• Advantages:
  • Increased external validity and ecological validity.
  • Tasks have increased mundane realism.
  • Reduced demand characteristics if participants are unaware of the study.
• Disadvantages:
  • Lack of control over extraneous variables.
  • Difficulty in randomly assigning participants, reducing internal validity.

Natural Experiments

• Definition: Independent variable occurs naturally; researcher measures the effect on the dependent variable.
• Example: Romanian orphan studies on the effects of deprivation.
• Advantages:
  • Ethically permissible research on natural occurrences.
  • High external validity; behaviors occurred naturally.
• Disadvantages:
  • Lack of control over experiment conditions.
  • Inability to establish strong cause-effect relationships.
  • Rare and non-replicable.

Quasi Experiments

• Definition: Studies where random assignment to conditions is not possible.
• Examples: Research on gender, age, or pre-existing conditions.
• Advantages:
  • Only way to study certain variables that cannot be manipulated.
• Disadvantages:
  • Presence of confounding variables that cannot be controlled, affecting results.

Conclusion

• Mention of additional resources and tutorials covering research methods.
• Acknowledgments to supporters of Psy Boost on Patreon.
• Encouragement to view further educational content.