EXPERIMENTS

EXPERIMENTS

1. Hypothesis

   • A hypothesis is a prediction, or an uneducated guess about something.

2. An experiment is usually associated with the natural sciences. An experiment allows the researcher to test a hypothesis under conditions that are controlled by the researcher.

3. Independent variable

   • The factor researchers change and manipulate to test the effect.

4. Dependent variable

   • What researchers want to measure to see how it is affected by the independent variable. Researchers do not manipulate this.

5. Lababtory Experiments

   • Bandura used this type of experiment when researching social behaviours.

6. Comparitive Experiiments

   • Durkheim used this type of experiment when researching suicide rates.

7. Field Experiments

   • Elliott used this type of experiment when researching discrimination/ segregation.

8. Positivist view on experiments:

   • Produces statistics
   • Scientific => producing facts
   • Analyses patterns and trends.
   • Standardised

9. Interpretivist view of experiments:

   • Prefer field experiments
   • More detail and depth
   • Qualitative.
   • More natural, therefore produces more validity.