ExperimentsExperimentsThe positivist paradiseThe positivist paradise

What are they?What are they? Experiments are a positivistic/ scientific Experiments are a positivistic/ scientific

approach to researchapproach to research

They are systematic, rigorous and allow the They are systematic, rigorous and allow the researcher to observe the effects of researcher to observe the effects of variables under controlled conditionsvariables under controlled conditions

They are all about observing cause and They are all about observing cause and effect relationships to identify correlationseffect relationships to identify correlations

2 types of experiment2 types of experiment

Laboratory experimentLaboratory experiment

Field experimentField experiment

Why Positivists Support ThemWhy Positivists Support Them

They are scientificThey are scientific They explore cause and effect They explore cause and effect

relationshipsrelationships They generate measurable, quantifiable They generate measurable, quantifiable

datadata They can be related to social forces They can be related to social forces

shaping peopleshaping people They are objective and unbiasedThey are objective and unbiased They are replicableThey are replicable Findings can be generalisedFindings can be generalised

THE LABORATORY THE LABORATORY EXPERIMENTEXPERIMENT

Takes place inside a laboratory under Takes place inside a laboratory under controlled conditionscontrolled conditions

Mainly used in PsychologyMainly used in Psychology

The case of Stanley MilgramThe case of Stanley Milgram

Psychology experiment into conformity Psychology experiment into conformity and obedienceand obedience

Electric shocks given as part of a new Electric shocks given as part of a new ‘learning programme’‘learning programme’

A significant number of people followed A significant number of people followed the lead of lab assistants and ‘killed’ the lead of lab assistants and ‘killed’ learners who failed to make progresslearners who failed to make progress

Ethical problems with studyEthical problems with study

Stan ‘the man’ Stan ‘the man’ MilgramMilgram

An electric chair

The experiment

Advantages Advantages

Controlled environmentControlled environment Observe variables – cause and effectObserve variables – cause and effect Removes biasRemoves bias Replicable (reliable)Replicable (reliable) GeneralisableGeneralisable

Disadvantages Disadvantages

Lacks validityLacks validity Ethical questionsEthical questions Society cannot fit inside a laboratory Society cannot fit inside a laboratory

– not true to life– not true to life Hawthorne effect Hawthorne effect

THE FIELD EXPERIMENTTHE FIELD EXPERIMENT

Takes place inside society in real-life Takes place inside society in real-life conditionsconditions

Follows behaviour in natural settingFollows behaviour in natural setting

Examples of useExamples of use

Rosenham et alRosenham et al – mental patients – mental patients

SissonsSissons – actor asking directions to – actor asking directions to Paddington StationPaddington Station

SmithSmith – Job applications and racism – Job applications and racism

GarfinkelGarfinkel – queues, home as a hotel – queues, home as a hotel

advantagesadvantages Behaviour in real life setting – natural Behaviour in real life setting – natural

behaviourbehaviour

Able to control some variables and Able to control some variables and observe effectsobserve effects

Insight into meanings and perceptions Insight into meanings and perceptions held by subjectsheld by subjects

No Hawthorne effect as subjects not aware No Hawthorne effect as subjects not aware of being observedof being observed

disadvantagesdisadvantages

Impossible to control all variablesImpossible to control all variables

Ethical issue of deceitEthical issue of deceit

Depends on skill of Depends on skill of observer/selectivityobserver/selectivity