There are two main types of experiments -
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers experiments and
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers experiments. Experiments are used by sociologists to test
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers and to measure the strength of the relationship between two
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers Laboratory experiments Laboratory experiments are the backbone of scientific discovery. They provide a
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers environment where variables can be isolated and correlations between things can be discovered. Experiments are said to be objective and
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers , full replication of experiments can be made in other laboratories. Laboratory experiments have been very successful in the natural sciences like chemistry and
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers Laboratory Experiments in Sociology However, in sociology the laboratory experiment is rarely used. This is because it is seen as:
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers - variables can’t be controlled
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers - it is not right to put people in laboratories for a period of time just to measure the effects of certain variables.
Unnatural - people will not act
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers in a false environment.
For an example of a laboratory experiment in social science - Bandura's theory of learnt agression - complete the exercise on page 129 of Sociology in Focus LEARN MORE ABOUT BANDURA'S THEORY AND EXPERIMENT HERE Field Experiments Field experiments are conducted in normal everyday situations. Unlike lab situations, the variables can’t be controlled and
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers aren’t as exact, but they have proved to be more popular in sociology as they are seen as having '
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers ’ i.e. they are true to real life situations.
Rosenthal and Jacobson 1968 In a 1968 San Franciscan primary school, Rosenthal and Jacobson told teachers that a
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers selection of students had achieved the highest scores in IQ tests and should be monitored as they were expected to display ‘unusual intellectual gains’ in the year ahead. Further tests showed that this random set of pupils did indeed show a great gain over an 18 month period. This study shows the powerful effects of
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers and the self-fulfilling prophecy but is open to
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers criticisms.
Sissons 1970 Sissons arranged for an
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers to dress up in a suit and bowler hat and stand around Paddington station and ask directions from passers by. The actor then changed into labourers clothes and repeated the task. The reactions of the passers by were then recorded and showed that
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers varied according to the social class (assumed) of the individual in front of them.
Rosenhan 1973 In 1973 David Rosenhan got some of his students to pretend to be schizophrenic and had them admitted to
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers hospitals. Once in hospital he had told them to act
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers and not ‘crazy in any way’. Interestingly they were all discharged (on average after 19 days) but with the schizophrenia ‘in remission’. At no time in their stay was the
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers of their illness questioned.
Advantages of Field Experiments They are less artificial than laboratory experiments involving people - their results may be more "valid" than lab experiments
Disadvantages of Field Experiments 1.
Control A major problem with field experiments is the inability to control all variables.
2.
The Hawthorne effect When people are aware they are taking part in an experiment or survey they may act
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers because of this awareness. This is called the
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers Effect because it was first recorded in a study of the Hawthorne Electricity Company in Chicago in the 1920's. The experiment was to determine the effect on worker productivity (ie how hard they worked) of variables such as light,
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers , heating, the frequency of rest breaks etc. The only factor which appeared to have any effect on productivity however was the knowledge that the
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers had that they were part of an experiment. Whatever variable was changed the workers worked harder because they knew they were being observed
3.
Ethical Issues It is debatable as to whether it is
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers (morally) right to conduct experiments on human beings. For instance in Rosenthal and Jacobsen's experiment the teachers and the pupils were mislead and the opportunities of the students influenced.
Many sociological field experiments are relatively harmless however it is important for the researcher to get the
actor consent controlled differently ethical ethically field Hawthorne hypotheses Impractical labelling laboratory legitimacy normally physics psychiatric random reliable responses results temperature Unethical validity variables workers of those being studied unless such knowledge would destroy the validity of the research.