An experimenter must ensure that their experimental design is fair in order to be sure that the results and conclusions collected and formed are valid.
Strengths of an experiment:
- Ensuring that all variables that might affect the results (dependent, independent or confounding) are controlled.
- Using a sample size which is representative
- Ensuring that the method is written clearly so that if the experiment was to be repeated by someone else, there would be no confusion in terms of knowing what to do.
Depending on the circumstances of the experiment, using a control group is a strength as it allows the experimenters to compare the experimental group to the control group in order to determine if the treatment had an effect. By serving as a comparison group, researchers are able to isolate the independent variable and look at the impact it had.
Weaknesses of an experiment:
- Experiments are sometimes less detailed and/or more unrealistic in comparison to case studies
- Behaviour in the laboratory is very narrow in its range. By controlling the situation so precisely, behaviour may be very limited thus affecting results
- Demand characteristics are all of the indications which convey to the participant the purpose of the experiment. Experimenters and Participants are active human beings who may by nature have some sort of conclusion formed about what is going to happen or what is supposed to happen.
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