1.5: Obedience Flashcards
Below is a table of data relating to the number of people who gave up a train seat when ordered to by a person dressing in different clothes:
The number of people (out of 20) who obeyed an order to give up a train seat was 3 for the order issued by a person in a track-suit, 5 for the order issued by a person in casual clothes and 16 for the order issued by a person in the train company uniform.
What would be an appropriate graph to plot the data? Explain why (3 marks)
A bar chart would be appropriate as the data is not continuous.
The conditions are separate from each other
A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.
Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.
The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).
Identify the experimental design that was used in this study.
Briefly explain one advantage of using this experimental design in this study (3 marks)
Independent groups design.
As participants will either be approached by a confederate wearing uniform or a confederate in everyday clothing, they are unlikely to guess the aim of the study
A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.
Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.
The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).
Use your knowledge of research into obedience to explain the likely outcome of this experiment (3 marks)
More people will pick up litter in Condition B than in Condition A, because the confederate’s uniform increased the legitimacy of the order given
A psychologist studying obedience conducted the following experiment.
A confederate (stooge) approached people in the street and instructed them to pick up a piece of litter and put it in a nearby bin. None of the people approached had dropped the litter.
There were two groups in the experiment.
Group A: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in everyday clothing.
Group B: The confederate (stooge) was dressed in a uniform.
The psychologist recorded how many people in each group obeyed the instruction of the confederate (stooge).
Use your knowledge of research into obedience to explain the likely outcome of this experiment (3 marks)
More people will pick up litter in Condition B than in Condition A / fewer people will pick up litter in Condition A than in Condition B, because the confederate’s uniform increased the legitimacy/authority/status of the demands or order given
