Differences between field studies, surveys, field experiments, and laboratory experiments

Subtopic

Used when there is limited knowledge of relationship between variables

Exploratory research - trying to gather information, may or may not interact with respondent

Ex Post Facto in design - Researchers do not manipulate or control independent variable

Lacks control, can be hard to interpret, can become infeasible because of cost and time

Conducted in a realistic setting

i.e. - when studying the organizational climate and its effect on job satisfaction in a business settings, field studies would be used to attempt to identify what variables employees consider to be an important measure of job satisfaction

i.e. - Surveys could be used to study an organization’s climate and its effect on job satisfaction, by designing a survey to give to employees at businesses where there appears to be high job satisfaction, and also to employees at businesses where there appears to be low job satisfaction. Asking questions around what job satisfaction means to the employee, what in the organizations climate make them more satisfied with their job, etc.

Researchers need some knowledge of of problem before survey can be designed

Requires interaction with respondent

Ex Post Facto in design - researchers do not manipulate or control independent variable

designed as a search for relationships

provides descriptive research

i.e. - Surveys could be used to study an organization’s climate and its effect on job satisfaction, by designing a survey to give to employees at businesses where there appears to be high job satisfaction, and also to employees at businesses where there appears to be low job satisfaction. Asking questions around what job satisfaction means to the employee, what in the organizations climate make them more satisfied with their job, etc.