Lab Experiment characteristics: which statement is true?

Lab Experiment characteristics: which statement is true?

• A. It takes place in a natural, real-world setting.
• B. It takes place in a controlled environment where the researcher manipulates the IV and measures the DV.
• C. It does not control extraneous variables.
• D. It uses only observational methods.

Answer: (B)

In a lab experiment, the defining feature is a controlled environment where the researcher deliberately manipulates the independent variable and measures the dependent variable. This setup lets researchers infer causality because extraneous variables are minimized or randomized, reducing their influence on the outcome. A natural, real-world setting describes field or naturalistic studies, not laboratory experiments. The idea that extraneous variables aren’t controlled isn’t correct—controlling them is a central aim of lab work to boost internal validity. And lab work is not limited to observation; it involves actively changing the IV and observing the resulting DV, even though observation may be part of data collection.

In a lab experiment, the defining feature is a controlled environment where the researcher deliberately manipulates the independent variable and measures the dependent variable. This setup lets researchers infer causality because extraneous variables are minimized or randomized, reducing their influence on the outcome. A natural, real-world setting describes field or naturalistic studies, not laboratory experiments. The idea that extraneous variables aren’t controlled isn’t correct—controlling them is a central aim of lab work to boost internal validity. And lab work is not limited to observation; it involves actively changing the IV and observing the resulting DV, even though observation may be part of data collection.