field research

studies conducted outside the laboratory, in a “real-world” setting, which typically involve observing or interacting with participants in their typical environments over an extended period of time. Field research has the advantages of ecological validity and the opportunity to understand how and why behavior occurs in a natural social environment; it has the disadvantages of loss of environmental control and ability to do precise experimental manipulations. Thus, field research is often said to have more external validity and less internal validity than laboratory-based research. In studies of the behavior of nonhuman animals, field research stands in contrast to studies conducted on animals in captivity. See also field experiment.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

LMX theory

abbreviation for leader–member exchange theory.