Flashcards on Experiments (3.3)

Why are laboratory experiments considered extremely reliable?

The laboratory has major advantages as a method to identify cause-and-effect relationships in natural sciences. As such, a sociologist belonging to which perspective would favour this method?

There are many practical problems with laboratory experiments. One is linked to the complexity of society. What is it?

Laboratory experiments usually only study small samples. Why does this present a problem?

There are also many ethical objections to conducting experiments on human beings, at least under certain circumstances. One ethical problem is the lack of informed consent. Discuss:

Another ethical problem is deception. Discuss:

Which researcher was criticised for his deception?

Another ethical problem is harm. Discuss:

Supporters of Miligram's experiments argue that the pain and suffering participants felt can be justified. Why?

A laboratory is not a natural environment and it is therefore likely that any behaviour exhibited is also unnatrual. If people do not behave in true-to-life ways, what will happen to the results?

If people know they are being studied, they may behave differently. This will then ruin the experiment. What is the term used to describe this process?

Which sociologist first experienced the Hawthorne Effect when researching factors affecting workers' productivity at the Hawthorne plant?

Interpretivists argue that humans are fundamentally different to other organisms and phenomena studied by natural scientists. Why?

Because of our free will, our behaviour cannot be explained in terms of cause and effect. Instead, how can it be understood?

Why is the experimental therefore not appropriate for studying human beings?

Given the problems with laboratory experiments, sociologists have two alternatives. What are they?

A field experiment has two distinguishing features. What are they?

In a field experiment, the researcher manipulates one or more of the variables to see what effect it has on the subjects. Give an example of a field experiment:

Rosenhan's study shows the value of field experiments. What are their advantages?

However, there is a major disadvantage sociologists experience when using field experiments. What is it?

Why do some critics argue that field experiments are unethical?

What is the comparative method also known as, and why?

Thought experiments do not involve any actual experimentation. However, how are thought experiments similar to laboratory and field experiments?

What is perhaps the most famous example of the thought experiment?

What are the thought experiment's three main advantages?

However, the comparative method has its disadvantages too. For example, the research has even less control over variables than they do for field experiments. What does this mean?