Problems Applying Research

There are many problems making research applicable to everyday life.

Laboratory Studies

• Laboratory studies are low in ecological validity because laboratories are artificial environments. This means that behaviour displayed in a laboratory may not occur in everyday life.

•  Higher potential for demand characteristics. A Participant may realise the researcher's aim and this may change their behaviour, again making behaviour artificial and less applicable to everyday life. 

Questioning

• People may not give trueful answers because they want to create a socially desirable image.

Observations 

• If people know that they are being watched their behaviour may not be natural

• Observations lack control so establishing cause and effect is difficult.

Generalisability

• In order to generalise results to everyday life the sample size must be large enough and representative of the particular cultural, political and social context