1. Lecture 10: Issues with Laboratory Studies

2. When to Use Lab Studies? First define the question as a universalistic or particularistic research question. Lab studies are well suited for universalistic questions. Questions about theoretically predicted associations between constructs. Significant Question: Can this effect be demonstrated at all?

3. Considerations of the Independent Variables Many interesting IVs cannot normally be manipulated (e.g., gender, intelligence) Many interesting IVs cannot be manipulated ethically (e.g., psychological effects of abuse, divorce) What is the time frame of the effect?

4. Manipulation is Crucial for an Experiment in the Laboratory Manipulating the Independent Variable ensures that everyone experiences similar levels of one variable under exactly the same conditions. One issue is how well the manipulation captures the precise psychological process that we care about.

5. How “real” is an experiment? Mundane realism: The extent to which an experiment is similar to real-life situations – Stanford Prison Experiment – Video Game Example Psychological realism: The extent to which the psychological processes triggered in an experiment are similar to psychological processes that occur in everyday life.

6. Types of Laboratory Studies Impact Studies: Something happens to participants. Judgment Studies: Participants are fairly passive. They make judgments about a stimulus or a set of stimuli. Observational Studies: Controlled setting for making observations. Not a strong emphasis on manipulation.

7. Concerns – Expectancy Effects Try to keep the experimenter “blind” to the condition of the study Minimize interaction with participants Careful training of experimenters Set up independent camps: research assistants versus lead researchers Expectancy control group design Double-blind controlled studies

8. Basic Elements Setting and cover story Manipulate IVs Manipulation Checks Measure DVs. Avoid capitalizing on chance Debriefing – Reveal and explain deception (if applicable) – Learn what participants thought about the study – Learn which participants correctly guessed the purpose of the experiment