Broadbent's Research On Attention Donald Eric Broadbent an influential English experimental psychologist who was the first person to pull together the mass of diverse work on information theory that gave the area the coherence it lacked. In his experimental work he demonstrated that there was a possibility of studying attention rigorously. The data he used was from behavioral experiments to make inferences on the functional stages of processing and their order of occurrence. In a nutshell he invented the modern study of attention with an experimental approach to it (Driver, 2001).

He brought about a revolution on how research on mental processes was conducted. He put emphasis on how psychological theory and research could come from putting into consideration practical problems. He truly bridged the gap that existed between the laboratory and field. He regarded all theories as temporary accounts of the current information, likely to need revision and improvement when new data emerged. There have been increased uses of experimental models in the labs as a method of understanding human behavior (Driver, 2001). This is because the findings in the lab can be extrapolated to the world beyond this principle is called generilizability.

An experiment approach has various advantages in understanding and solving problems in real life this include;

The fact that the experimental model is easily replicable means that laboratory experiment can be done over and over again numerous times...

This is particularly important since it gives this mode of approach a sense of correctness. This is an advantage since the real world needs solutions that are going to bring positive impacts. This means that they should be thoroughly studied before they are put in place. Experimental results from repeats are regarded as temporary accounts that are likely to need revision and improvement when new data emerged.
Another advantage is the fact that experimental approach allows for precision in the control of extraneous and independent variables. In an experiment the variables available are carefully handled this gives room for great control of these variables. The results are therefore very precise (McLeod, 2012). This particularly relevant in real world situations where there is no room for estimations when trying to find solutions to problems. Most of these problems to be solved need facts that are precise and not mere assumptions.

Another advantage is the fact that an experimental approach has a way of bringing out the relationship between the cause and the effects in a particular situation. In the real world most of the things have specific causes. When these situations occur there are effects that are witnessed. These relationships can be easily established with an experimental approach and hence solutions realized. An example is in pollution where the specific causes of pollution can be determined and the effects also got. This will help in trying to come up with solutions to pollution.

There are also some disadvantages of experimental approach this…