Challenges of Social Psychological Experiments

Question 1

Loss of Control

Answer 1

Researchers can unknowingly influence their results

Question 2

How can you ensure you remove as miuch experimenter bias as possible?

Answer 2

1. Mechanise the procedure as much as possible
2. Follow a study protocol
   A script of exactly what the researcher need to say to the participants
3. Use of a double blind procedure
   Neither the participant nor the research knows which condition of the study is being tested
   All involve making sure its identical

Question 3

What is experimenter bias?

Answer 3

Attempting to hold all factors constant besides the manipulation of the independent variable
Allows you to claim that any effects was the result if the IV and not some outside influence

Question 4

what is confounding?

Answer 4

and extraneous variable that convaries with the iv and could provide an alternative explanation for the results
When studying human behaviour, it is impossible ti hold every single variable constant
Ex. cant account for every participants past life experiences\
Thus, simply try to control for as many factors as possible
Ex. test everyone in the same room, use the same experiments

Question 5

Realism

Answer 5

Attempts to control an experiment often lead to the creation of an artificial, unrealistic environment
Critics argue that the research findings thus dont generalize the real world
Lack ecological validity
The extent to which the results generalize to the outside world

Question 6

What is experimenter realism?

Answer 6

When experimental procedures have an impact in the participants, force them to take the experiment seriously, and involve in the procedures

Question 7

What is mundane realism?

Answer 7

How similar an experiment is to the events that frequently happen to people in the real world

Question 8

Deception

Answer 8

IN some cases, it is necessary to mislead participants regarding a studies true purpose
Need to prevent participant from behaving in a way that is consistent with their own hypothesis

Question 9

When is deception allowed?

Answer 9

The study would be biased if participants knew what it was really about,
It poses no greater risk than a person would encounter in everyday life

Question 10

Ethical Issues

Answer 10

Many of the classic experiments in social psychology are ethically questionable

Question 11

What are the general guidelines of ethical issues?

Answer 11

Avoid procedures that cause pain or discomfort
Participants must have the option to withdraw from the study at any time
Try to avoid deception
Fully debrief each participant
Do a thorough literature review and be aware of all alternative methods