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Experiments (Laboratory experiments (The experimental group - in this…
Experiments
Laboratory experiments
The experimental group - in this group we can control the quantity given to the experiment carefully measuring and recording any changes in the experiment.
the control group - with this group we keep the quantity constant also measuring and recording any changes in the size.
In scientific terms the nutrients given is the independent variable the casual factor which results in the plant growing which is the dependent variable.
in logic of the experimental method is that the scientist manipulates the variables in which they are interested in. by following this method they can establish a cause and effect.
Reliability - scientists can repeat the experiment exactly the same by recording. this means that it produces more reliable results. there are two reasons for this the original can specify precisely what steps were followed to produce the data. it is a very detached method meaning that people taking part cant get involved and emotionally attached.
Practical problems - This is allt he possible variables that might exert an influence on, say, a child's educational achievement might be at risk. Another problem is that it cant be used to study the past. And they are usually done in same sizes because of the time and cost.
Ethical problems - there are ethical problems when conducting experiments on humans under certain circumstances. Harm the experiment may cause physical or psychological harm to someone. lack of informed consent where the person does not know they are in an experiment.
The Hawthorne effect - the laboratory is not a normal or natural environment, this means that any behaviour in these conditions is also unnatural or artificial, meaning people have not behaved in a true way. .
Free will - interpretative sociologists argue that humans are fundamentally different from plants, rocks and other phenomena studied by natural scientists. unlike these object we have a free will, consciousness and a choice. this means that our behaviours can not be explained in the terms of cause and effect.
Field experiments
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Those involved are generally not aware that they are being experimented on so there is no Hawthorne effect.
The research manipulates one or more variables in the situation to see the effect. they are more natural, valid and realistic
Some critics argue that field experiments are unethical since the people involved don't know they are involved
The comparative method
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Step 1 - identify two groups of people that are alike in all major respects except for one variable we are interested in.
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