Module 7 Flashcards
Describe the Hawthorne Effect and how it came about.
The Hawthorn Effect is the tendency of people to behave differently if they know that they are being observed. This was initially a study that was designed to find variables that improved the productivity of workers in a factory.
How was the Hawthorne Effect misinterpreted as causation as opposed to correlation?
The researchers found that the productivity of the workers being observed increased despite the change in lighting. It was therefore concluded that other variables were affecting the work ethic of the workers such as a keen group of volunteers, the encouraging tones and positive interactions between the researchers and workers.
Describe the Mozart Effect on child development and how it came about.
A study by a psychologist found that students who listened to Mozart as opposed to other genres improved significantly on a set task. This was concluded that Mozart music has a direct correlation to intelligence. This spawned a trend of people who played Mozart music to unborn children in the hopes that it would affect their intelligence.
Describe the Halo Effect.
The Halo Effect is the tendency in people to be easily influenced by others whose image is represented well or attractive. This results in a cognitive bias.
What is sample selection?
Sample selection is the choice of subjects from a greater population.
What affect does reducing bias in sample selection cause?
Reducing bias increases the reliability of results obtained.
