A researcher wants to study diffusion of responsibility in a modern workplace setting by testing whether employees are less likely to respond to an urgent project request sent via email when more coworkers are CC'd. Applying the design logic of Darley and Latané, how should the researcher operationalize the independent variable to achieve high construct validity?
Question: A researcher wants to study diffusion of responsibility in a modern workplace setting by testing whether employees are less likely to respond to an urgent project request sent via email when more coworkers are CC'd. Applying the design logic of Darley and Latané, how should the researcher operationalize the independent variable to achieve high construct validity?
Sample answer: To achieve high construct validity, the researcher should operationalize the independent variable by manipulating the number of coworkers CC'd on the urgent email request (varying the number of potential helpers). The staged crisis is the urgent project request, and the dependent variable is whether an individual employee responds to help.
Key points:
- Operationalize the independent variable by manipulating the number of potential helpers (CC'd coworkers).
- Introduce a staged crisis or emergency (the urgent project request).
- Directly translate the conceptual research question into a measurable, varied group size design.
Rubric: The response must apply Darley and Latané's design logic by proposing to manipulate the number of potential helpers (coworkers CC'd on the email) during a staged emergency (an urgent project request) to measure helping behavior.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A researcher wants to study diffusion of responsibility in a modern workplace setting by testing whether employees are less likely to respond to an urgent project request sent via email when more coworkers are CC'd. Applying the design logic of Darley and Latané, how should the researcher operationalize the independent variable to achieve high construct validity?