As a psychologist with a focus on research methodology, I can provide a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes a field experiment in psychology.

Field experiments are a type of empirical research method used to study the effects of various independent variables on dependent variables in a naturalistic setting. Unlike laboratory experiments, which are conducted in a controlled environment, field experiments take place in the real world, where the participants are not aware that they are part of an experiment. This approach allows researchers to observe behaviors and phenomena as they occur in everyday life, without the artificial constraints often associated with laboratory settings.

The primary advantage of field experiments is their ecological validity. Because they occur in the natural environment, the results are often more generalizable to real-world situations. However, this comes at the cost of control over extraneous variables, which can make it difficult to determine causality with certainty.

One of the key features of a field experiment is the manipulation of the independent variable by the experimenter. This manipulation is done subtly so as not to alter the natural flow of events. For example, in a study on obedience, the experimenter might manipulate the level of authority presented by an individual giving instructions to see how it affects compliance.

It's important to note that while field experiments are conducted in real-life environments, they still require careful planning and ethical considerations. Researchers must ensure that the rights and well-being of participants are protected, even though the participants may not be aware they are part of an experiment. This often involves obtaining informed consent from participants when possible and adhering to ethical guidelines set forth by professional organizations.

Another consideration in field experiments is the potential for confounding variables. Since the environment is not controlled, there may be other factors that could influence the outcome of the study. Researchers must be vigilant in identifying and controlling for these variables to the best of their ability.

In summary, a field experiment in psychology is a valuable research tool for studying human behavior in a natural setting. It offers high ecological validity but presents challenges in terms of control over variables and ethical considerations. Researchers must balance the benefits of real-world observations with the need for careful experimental design and ethical conduct.

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Field Experiments. Field experiments are done in the everyday (i.e. real life) environment of the participants. The experimenter still manipulates the independent variable, but in a real-life setting (so cannot really control extraneous variables). An example is Holfing's hospital study on obedience.read more >>