A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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What is a significant limitation in field experiments regarding reliability?

High reliability due to replication
Less control causing weaker reliability
Standardized conditions
Increased external validity

The correct answer is: Less control causing weaker reliability

Field experiments are conducted in natural settings rather than in controlled environments like laboratories. One significant limitation in this context is the level of control the researcher has over extraneous variables. In field experiments, researchers often have less control over the environment and the various factors that might influence the results. This can lead to variability in the findings that is not due to the independent variable being tested but rather due to uncontrolled factors. The less control experienced in field experiments can compromise reliability because it becomes more difficult to produce consistent and repeatable results across different instances. If the same experiment is conducted in different conditions or at different times, the outcomes may differ due to these uncontrolled variables. Therefore, while field experiments excel in enhancing ecological validity by being more reflective of real-world settings, this benefit comes at the cost of reliability, as results can vary significantly when the experiment is repeated.