A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What type of experiment was conducted by Gibson and Walk?

1. Field experiment

2. Laboratory experiment

3. Longitudinal study

4. Naturalistic observation

The correct answer is: Laboratory experiment

The research conducted by Gibson and Walk is classified as a laboratory experiment because it took place in a controlled environment specifically designed to study the perception of depth in infants. In their study, known as the "visual cliff" experiment, they created an apparatus that simulated a drop-off to test whether infants could perceive depth and would avoid what appeared to be a dangerous fall. This controlled setting allowed the researchers to manipulate variables, such as the presence or absence of a visual cliff, while observing the infants' behavior. The use of a specialized setup to assess depth perception exemplifies the characteristics of a laboratory experiment, as it focuses on establishing cause-and-effect relationships under controlled conditions. In contrast, the other types of studies listed, such as field experiments and naturalistic observations, typically involve less control over the environment or participants, making them less suitable for the objectives of Gibson and Walk's research. A longitudinal study also differs significantly in that it requires collecting data from the same subjects over an extended period, which was not the case in this particular experiment.