Imagine you are designing a new experiment to test if the type of simulated emergency (e.g., a physical fall vs. a fire alarm) affects helping behavior. Applying the control methods from Darley and Latané's study, how should you implement random assignment and hold extraneous variables constant in this new design?
Question: Imagine you are designing a new experiment to test if the type of simulated emergency (e.g., a physical fall vs. a fire alarm) affects helping behavior. Applying the control methods from Darley and Latané's study, how should you implement random assignment and hold extraneous variables constant in this new design?
Sample answer: To apply these control methods, I would randomly assign participants to either the physical fall condition or the fire alarm condition to control for extraneous participant variables. To hold extraneous variables constant, I would test all participants in the exact same room and ensure that the perceived number of other witnesses is kept identical across both conditions.
Key points:
- Applies random assignment to distribute participants to the new conditions (physical fall vs. fire alarm).
- Explains that random assignment controls for extraneous participant variables.
- Applies the concept of holding extraneous variables constant (e.g., testing in the same room or keeping the perceived number of witnesses identical).
Rubric: To receive full credit, the answer must apply both control concepts to the new scenario: 1) state that participants will be randomly assigned to the two emergency type conditions to control for participant variables, and 2) state that at least one extraneous variable (such as the testing room or the perceived number of witnesses) will be held constant across all conditions.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Imagine you are designing a new experiment to test if the type of simulated emergency (e.g., a physical fall vs. a fire alarm) affects helping behavior. Applying the control methods from Darley and Latané's study, how should you implement random assignment and hold extraneous variables constant in this new design?