which to test the hypothesis.
             Experimental methods allow this to take place; the use of the experimental method enables the investigator to study cause and effect. This is a big advantage of all the experimental methods, and because it allows the deliberate manipulation of one variable a well-designed experiment can identify clearly a cause and effect of social behaviour, including social influence.
             There are two main types of experimental method, 'laboratory experiments' and 'field experiments'. Because a laboratory experiment obviously takes place inside a laboratory setting the researcher can largely control the environment. By doing so it is possible to manipulate the independent variable alone and therefore observe, objectively, the effect of that one particular variable. There are many obvious advantages to carrying out laboratory experiments, they allow cause and effect to be established and they allow for the precise control of variables. Studies such as Milgrams (1963) into obedience show just how useful this method is. Milgram used a laboratory experiment to show how much people will obey others and shed much light on the area of social influenc
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