A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which of the following is a disadvantage of laboratory experiments?

1. High ecological validity

2. Greater control over variables

3. Less validity

4. Clear operational definitions

The correct answer is: Less validity

Laboratory experiments are designed to be highly controlled environments where researchers can manipulate variables and measure their effects. However, this setting can significantly impact the degree to which the findings can generalize to real-world situations. The primary disadvantage connected to laboratory experiments is their potential lack of ecological validity, which refers to the extent to which findings from an experiment can be generalized to real-life settings. Because laboratory conditions often differ greatly from ordinary environments where behaviors typically occur, participants may not act naturally, resulting in outcomes that do not accurately reflect behavior outside of the lab. This limitation ultimately affects the validity of the experimental findings. In contrast, options that refer to high ecological validity, greater control over variables, and clear operational definitions are advantages that laboratory experiments offer. High control allows researchers to isolate specific variables, while clear operational definitions ensure that concepts are measurable, contributing to a clearer understanding of the experiment. Therefore, the aspect of validity that diminishes due to these artificial settings highlights the key disadvantage of laboratory experiments.