Experiments (laboratory and field)

    AQA
    GCSE

    Experiments function as the primary method for Positivist sociologists seeking to establish cause-and-effect relationships (causality) through the manipulation of variables. Candidates must distinguish between Laboratory Experiments (high control, high reliability, low ecological validity) and Field Experiments (natural setting, lower control, higher ecological validity). Analysis must weigh the scientific rigour of the hypothetico-deductive model against Interpretivist critiques regarding artificiality, the Hawthorne Effect, and ethical constraints defined by the British Sociological Association (BSA).

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for precise definition of independent and dependent variables within the context of the hypothesis
    • Credit the explicit application of the Hawthorne Effect when evaluating the validity of laboratory settings
    • Candidates must contrast the high internal validity of field experiments with the reliability issues caused by lack of variable control
    • Evaluation must reference specific ethical breaches (e.g., lack of informed consent, psychological harm) using established studies like Milgram or Rosenthal and Jacobson

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise definition of independent and dependent variables within the context of the hypothesis
    • Credit the explicit application of the Hawthorne Effect when evaluating the validity of laboratory settings
    • Candidates must contrast the high internal validity of field experiments with the reliability issues caused by lack of variable control
    • Evaluation must reference specific ethical breaches (e.g., lack of informed consent, psychological harm) using established studies like Milgram or Rosenthal and Jacobson

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When answering 12-mark questions, explicitly link the method's features to the specific context provided in the item (e.g., researching schools)
    • 💡Utilize the PERVERT mnemonic (Practical, Ethical, Reliability, Validity, Examples, Representativeness, Theory) to structure evaluation paragraphs
    • 💡Always contrast the method in question with an alternative (e.g., contrasting lab experiments with field experiments) to demonstrate AO3 analysis
    • 💡Allocate 15 minutes for the 12-mark essay; ensure a conclusion addresses the 'extent' of the method's usefulness

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'reliability' (replicability) with 'validity' (truthfulness/authenticity) when assessing experimental data
    • Confusing field experiments with non-participant observation; failing to identify the manipulation of variables in the field
    • Asserting that experiments are 'easy' or 'cheap' without qualifying the scale or context of the research

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    Key Terminology

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    Likely Command Words

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    Identify
    Describe
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    Discuss
    Evaluate
    Examine

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