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GCSE Psychology · key term
A study in which the independent variable occurs naturally rather than being manipulated by the researcher.
Used by AQA and OCR
Paper 1
A research method that investigates a naturally occurring independent variable which the researcher does not manipulate.
Revise: Choosing and Evaluating Research MethodsIn a natural experiment, the researcher does not create or manipulate the IV. The difference already exists independently of the investigation. Researchers might compare teachers who have already received empathy training with teachers at another school who have not.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Identify an experiment using both the setting and who determines the independent variable. A natural setting alone does not make it a natural experiment.
Identify who creates the independent variable before classifying an experiment. A natural setting alone does not make an experiment a natural experiment.
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The study can be considered a natural experiment. Its independent variable was the children's age, which occurred naturally and could not be assigned or manipulated by Piaget. The dependent variable was whether the child could conserve number.
An experiment in which the independent variable occurs naturally rather than being manipulated by the researcher.
