A great deal of psychological research is carried out using experiments and this series introduces students to a range of issues and ideas surrounding this most-popular of methods. Using a mix of classic and contemporary studies the series illustrates and evaluates different types of experimental methods.

Includes the following 4 segments on 1 DVD:

Laboratory Experiments (5:49) - This film uses a range of classic studies to explore the strengths and limitations of laboratory experiments as a research method.

Field Experiments (7:06) - This film uses a range of classic studies (Hofling, Piliavin, Fisher and Geiselman to define and explain how and why psychologists use field experiments.

Natural Experiments (7:11) - How do natural experiments differ from Field or Laboratory experiments? Are there different types and what does this research method give to psychologists that other methods don’t? This film examines these questions in the context of Costello et al’s “Great Smokey Mountains Study” of the relationship between poverty, children’s behaviour and mental health.

Experimental Design (7:40) - This short film uses a real world example (the relationship between learning and time of day) to explore 3 different types of experimental design: Repeated Measures; Independent Measures; Matched Pairs.