What are the differences between field and laboratory experiments?

If you've conducted laboratory experiments, field experiments can be the final step in your research to test whether it is viable and applicable. In industries like agriculture, field experiments are often a must and hold a lot of weight.

In my experience, Field Experiences can be conducted after one carries out Laboratory Experiments. Laboratory experiments can be carried out in a controlled, monitored, curated environment with a strong calculated probability outcome of the research topic. One can ensure conditioned environments and takes into account only lab confined variables. A Field experiment should be carried out after a good number of laboratory based experiments to ensure one is prepared to tackle the variables that an outside environment throw at you. Natural parameters cannot be mimicked a 100% in a lab. Scalability and uncontrolled phenomenons can pose a great study variable too.

Both the Lab Experiments and Field Experiments have their own importance and, in fact, complimentary to each other. Most of the researches are carried out on the basis of observation (may be called as field observation) then samples are taken followed by Lab Experiments. Some researches are, on the other hand, absolutely original and follow the Field Experiments thereafter. Even when we go to drugs discovery, we find that in many of the cases the positive treatment through plant products led to detailed study of components then a modification by researchers in this field resulted in wonderful outcomes (even addition of methyl or ethyl group has made a remarkable difference). This fundamental is valid for all life related fields.

One thing I have found helpful while conducting field experiment is that it can be unlimited, I can use a very large sample size which reduces the risk of error and bias unlike the limitations encountered in laboratory experiment with limited sample size. There are however the advantages of homogeneity when using laboratory which gives more accurate results when compared with the open or field experiments.

In wastewater treatment where many variables can influence the performance of a treatment plant, laboratory experiments are often conducted to study the influence of one variable at a time, by controlling all others. After a laboratory scale study, where data has been gathered on the impact of each variable change, a field study is conducted. In field studies, uncontrollable variables such as temperature or rainfall may be are monitored to aid the interpretation of the results, while independent and dependant variables will be recorded to ascertain if the laboratory scale data is reproducible in field studies.

Involves all uncontrolled factors. Still performance is very easy. No need to add or subtract any other factor. Completely depending on external factors.

Unlike a Field Experiment, a Laboratory Experiment, researchers work in a controlled environment where they can manipulate and control variables. This setup offers precise control over the factors being studied but might not fully capture the real-world context and ecological validity found in field experiments.

Laboratory experiments happen indoors, where we can control everything. It's like testing how different microplastics react to biofilms in a controlled setting, so we can focus on specific factors without outside interference.

Lab experiments are a great way to control for potential confounding variables and to create replicable experiments. However, it is worth noting that depending on the nature of the experiment, in the "real world" highly controlled settings are not very likely. Sometimes it can be more valid to conduct a field experiment, where you can measure potential confounding variables and control for them in analysis, but can observe and measure the phenomenon in a 'real life' setting.

Laboratory experiments are scientific procedures conducted in a controlled setting to test a hypothesis or investigate a phenomenon. They involve manipulating one or more variables and observing the effects on a dependent variable while keeping all other variables constant. These experiments are designed to produce reliable and valid results that can be replicated by other researchers. They are an essential part of scientific research and help to advance our understanding of the natural world.

Laboratory-based experiments happen in a controlled environment where the probability of expected outcomes is high. However, field experiments can vary and provide more relevant and real-time results from a particular study.

Field experiments often require more ethical thoughts as well as program management and coordination given that they often involve people as subjects/participants.

Using a farmer trying to find the best fertiliser for crops as an example. In the field, the farmer applies various fertilisers to his crops but cannot control for real-world challenges such as unpredictable weather and soil conditions. However, in the lab, the farmer regulates these variables to observe only the effect of changing the fertiliser while keeping everything else constant. While field experiments offer a more realistic approach with less control, lab experiments provide precision but are often not a reflection of the real world.

Laboratory experiments provide significant control over variables, allowing researchers to identify cause-and-effect relationships in a controlled setting. However, this controlled environment may lack ecological validity, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to real-world scenarios. In contrast, field experiments are conducted in natural settings, offering greater ecological validity and insights into real-world behaviors. Yet, they come with the challenge of controlling external variables, which can complicate data interpretation.

Laboratory experiments are under control environment and provide precise data and information to find correlations useful for R&D and develop new products and methodologies. Yet field experiments are more realistic, but the responses are subject to many different conditions that become more complex to find positive correlations. However is the final test to proved that a product will work as expected under certain circumstances. In modern agriculture we need the combination of both to develop the best technologies for sustainable production.

An example of a field experiment could involve studying the effectiveness of a new health intervention in reducing smoking rates in a community. Researchers begin intervention in one neighborhood while leaving another as a control group. They collect data on smoking behavior through surveys or observations over a period of time. A laboratory experiment might involve testing the effects of a new drug on cell cultures in a controlled laboratory setting. Researchers could expose cultured cells to different concentrations of a drug and measure their response. By controlling variables such as temperature, pH, exposure time, and general environment, researchers can isolate the effects of the drug on the cells under strict controlled conditions.

Field experiments might test the real-world efficacy of a new drug Field experiments might test the real-world efficacy of a new compounds by administering it to patients, while laboratory experiments could focus on testing its pharmacological properties using in vitro assays and animal models prior to clinical trials

For example, we've done field experiments where we followed microplastics through a wastewater plant to see how well they're removed. In the lab, we've looked at how biofilms grow on microplastics under certain conditions.

Experimento de campo: avalia??o do desenvolvimento de materiais genéticos de café em condi??es edafoclimáticas específicas. Experimento de laboratório: avaliar características físicas e químicas de gr?os/sementes de diversas espécies.

Field experiments are conducted in natural settings, outside of a laboratory. For example, a researcher might study the effects of a new advertising campaign by placing ads in different neighborhoods and measuring how many people in each neighborhood remember the ad. Lab experiments are conducted in a controlled environment, such as a laboratory. For example, a researcher might study the effects of a new drug on memory by giving the drug to participants in a lab and then testing their recall of a list of words.

Building a research career is a process. Different research questions determine how to decide on your approach to achieve the intended objectives. These skills some are developed through practice in the field as you interact with your respondents whereas other skills are achieved through various engagements with research mentors and colleagues. I have actually advanced my research skills through a number of professional courses, seminars, disseminations of research findings among other ways. Development of research skills I would easily put it as a 'theory-practice' journey where you always learn a new thing along this continuum.

Engage in the research process to develop your skills. Just like a muscle that requires exercise to grow, developing these skills requires repeating failed experiments, learning from mistakes, and continuous learning. It is also invaluable to have a knowledgeable mentor who can provide guidance and support when encountering challenges during the research process.

Ambientes controlados s?o essenciais para o início do processo de desenvolvimento de um produto ou uma teoria. O problema é que o ambiente controlado exclui múltiplas variáveis, elementos da natureza ou ocorrências inesperadas, que afetam o resultado final do experimento. Por isso qualquer desenvolvedor, de quaisquer áreas do conhecimento, necessita realizar experimentos em campo antes de considerar que atingiu o resultado de seu trabalho. O mundo real pode demonstrar que o que funciona no ambiente controlado n?o é adequado para as condi??es incertas de onde a teoria ou o produto será aplicado. Parafraseando Einstein, a o experimento de campo sem a fase laboratorial é cego, o experimento laboratorial sem a fase de campo é paralítico.

Developing research skills involves gaining proficiency in methodologies, study design, analytics tools, and ethical considerations essential for conducting effective and ethically research

All the skills can be divided into two groups: acquired and congenital. It is useless to waste time getting skills that you have no predisposition to them, and it is a tragedy to find your talent and waste time without hard-work and dedication.

The gold standard to assess efficiency and safety of a drug is 'clinical trial'. The initial three phases are performed in a controlled environment (lab exp), after the data will go for approval for marketing (FDA approval). However the study conducted in a standardized condition far from the real world of prescription use. Here comes the discrepancies in the treatment condition or patient selection may modify the effectiveness and risk. So we healthcare professional mostly trust the data comes from post marketing surveillance (feild study), the data is enriched with 'off label' uses, more new serious adverse drug reactions and drug-drug drug-food interaction, effects in multiple comorbidities etc.

I think field studies give you an idea of how a drug will perform in the 'real world', where a specific population of people aren't given a lengthy & explicit list of instructions to follow, which is what a clinical study requires. A clinical studies also used a very precise population. Often, people with any other illnesses or diseases are excluded, and they seldom have children or very elderly patients, so you should Not extrapolate any of the finding to any populations outside of the population the clinical study was run using. But, you can't assume that every AE you see in a field study is caused by the drug, because you aren't controlling for anything else. I think there's a place for both types of studies.

Text Books and Courses in Experimental Design and Statistics describe the differences. It is naive to think someone would explain this accurately in the format you gave us unless they had an abundance of free time.

I believe it's crucial to cultivate students' scientific temper from childhood in schools. Through a rich curriculum fostering curiosity and exploration, we can sow the seeds of inquiry-based learning and reverence for the scientific method. By providing ample opportunities for hands-on experiences and real-world applications, we nurture an environment where young minds flourish. Encouraging collaboration and access to diverse resources, schools become hubs of knowledge where scientific achievements are celebrated.

I believe that without lab experiments, we cannot judge and be confident about our products to be introduced to the real world. Lab experiments could give you a brief picture of your materials but without feeling or psychological evidence since you only could collect data that either approved or disapproved with your hypothesis. In real world or what we call it (the field experiments), we cannot control the environment so the effects and errors could be massive with uncontrolled outcomes. Uncertainty usually will be high in field experiments compared to the lab experience since the samples are randomly behaving and none can predict their behaviours which could results in unpredictable consequences.