What are some limitations of using laboratory experiments in psychological studies?

One limitation of using laboratory experiments in psychological studies is that the results of such experiments are likely to lack ecological validity and mundane realism. This means that because of the controlled environment in lab experiments, the outcome of the experiment may not yield an accurate reflection of what would be seen in the real world. In an everyday naturalistic environment, many factors may interact which lead to and shape an individuals behaviour, which is not accounted for in a lab setting.
Another limitation of using laboratory experiments in psychological studies is that participants may work out what the researcher is expecting from them and thus change their behaviour to adhere to that (social desirability bias), thus not giving an accurate picture of the phenomena being studied. Furthermore, if a particular group of participants are being studied e.g. those with a particular psychological disorder, the lab environment may lead them to exaggerate or attempt to inhibit certain behaviours related to the disorder, meaning that the researcher cannot get valid and accurate information on the disorder.

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Answered by Hana F. Psychology tutor

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