A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What aspect of behavior is often considered artificial in laboratory experiments?

1. Participants' natural responses

2. Controlled environment influence

3. Social interactions among participants

4. Long-term behavioral trends

The correct answer is: Controlled environment influence

In the context of laboratory experiments in psychology, the controlled environment is often considered artificial because it can limit external factors that typically influence behavior in real-world settings. This means that the carefully regulated conditions of a lab—where variables are manipulated and other aspects of the environment are kept constant—can lead to behaviors that might not reflect how individuals would act in everyday life. For example, participants might respond differently in a lab setting due to the awareness of being observed, or they might not experience the same stressors and social dynamics they would encounter outside the lab, thereby influencing their responses. This artificial environment might not adequately replicate the complexity of real-life situations, which can affect the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, while controlled environments allow for a level of precision and replicability in scientific research, they can also create circumstances that differ significantly from natural behavior, leading to questions about the validity of the results when applied to broader contexts.