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Case Study

Explain why the children's behavior changed from the first day to the fifth day, identifying the psychological phenomenon that occurred and describing how the transition demonstrates this concept.

Case context: A developmental psychologist wants to study the sharing behaviors of preschoolers. The researcher sits openly in the corner of the classroom with a notepad and pen. On the first day, the children behave unusually politely, constantly looking at the researcher and whispering. By the fifth day, however, the children ignore the researcher entirely, playing dynamically, arguing over toys, and behaving in their usual uninhibited manner.

Question: Explain why the children's behavior changed from the first day to the fifth day, identifying the psychological phenomenon that occurred and describing how the transition demonstrates this concept.

Sample answer: The change in the children's behavior is explained by the process of habituation to observation. Initially, the children showed reactivity to the researcher's undisguised presence by acting unusually polite and paying attention to the observer. Over the course of five days, they became accustomed to the researcher's presence and habituated to being monitored. Consequently, they resumed their natural, uninhibited behaviors, ignoring the researcher.

Key points:

  • Identify the phenomenon as habituation to observation.
  • Comprehend that the initial polite behavior represents reactivity to being watched.
  • Explain that the children became accustomed to the researcher's presence over time.
  • Explain that habituation allowed the children to resume their natural, uninhibited behaviors.

Rubric: The response should correctly identify the phenomenon as habituation to observation, explain that the children's initial polite behavior was reactivity to being observed, and explain that the shift to natural play by day five indicates they became accustomed to the observer and resumed their natural behaviors.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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