Explain why the student advisor recommended a structured observation with a confederate over the student's initial naturalistic observation plan, and how this choice affects the control over the independent event.
Case context: A research student plans to study aggression by sitting in a busy university student center and recording how people react when they are bumped into by passersby. Their advisor suggests they look at Dov Cohen's 'culture of honor' study and use a structured observation with a confederate instead.
Question: Explain why the student advisor recommended a structured observation with a confederate over the student's initial naturalistic observation plan, and how this choice affects the control over the independent event.
Sample answer: The advisor recommended a structured observation because the student's initial plan (naturalistic observation) relies on random, uncontrollable collisions that may not be comparable. By using a structured observation with a confederate, the researcher controls and standardizes the bump and insult, ensuring every participant experiences the exact same trigger. This allows the researchers to directly compare reactions across different groups (such as Northerners versus Southerners) without confounding variables like the severity or intent of the bump.
Key points:
- Naturalistic observation lacks control over the frequency and intensity of natural bumps.
- Structured observation involves creating a standardized setting and trigger.
- A confederate ensures that the bump and insult are identical for all participants.
- Standardization controls for confounding variables and enables valid comparisons between groups.
Rubric: The response must explain that naturalistic observation lacks control over random events, whereas structured observation with a confederate standardizes the trigger (independent event) to allow direct comparison between participant groups.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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