Personal Investigation- Chameleon Effect

Question 1

What is the aim?

Answer 1

To investigate whether the chameleon effect influences likeability

Question 2

What is the IV?

Answer 2

Chameleon effect v no chameleon effect

Question 3

What is the DV?

Answer 3

Likeability rating (on a scale of 1-10)

Question 4

What is the experimental hypothesis?

Answer 4

There will be a significant increase in the score of likeability (on a scale of 1-10) when the chameleon effect is used compared to when the chameleon effect is not used

Question 5

What is the null hypothesis?

Answer 5

Any difference in the likeability rating (on a scale of 1-10) when the chameleon effect is used or not used in interviews is due to chance

Question 6

What is the method and why is this used?

Answer 6

EXPERIMENT

+researcher manipulates IV= higher internal validity
+often easily repeatable as researcher has control of IV

Question 7

What is the experimental design and why is this used?

Answer 7

INDEPENDENT GROUPS DESIGN

+less chance of order effects
+can be used when repeated measures is not appropriate

Question 8

What is the target population and sampling frame?

Answer 8

Students / QE students

Question 9

What sampling techniques is used and why?

Answer 9

OPPORTUNITY SAMPLE

+Quick and easy
+Appropriate when sample is unknown

Question 10

Possible EV’s and how they are dealt with

Answer 10

TIME OF DAY: do all at the same time of day- more tired at certain times of day

AMOUNT OF TIME PPTS HAVE: do at start of lunch so they have lots of time and don’t have to rush

Question 11

Assessing reliability

Answer 11

INTER-RATER RELIABILITY as there was more than one psychologist

Question 12

How did you ensure reliability?

Answer 12

Standardised procedures so Q’s are the same for all interviewers

Question 13

How did you assess validity?

Answer 13

FACE VALIDITY to check the study appears to measure what it claims to measure

Question 14

What are some issues with validity and how were these dealt with?

Answer 14

DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS: single blind study

SOCIAL DESIRABILITY: confidentiality

Question 15

What are some ethical issues and how were these dealt with?

Answer 15

CONFIDENTIALITY: remain anonymous

DECEPTION: debrief, right to withdraw, valid consent

(British Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Conduct 2009)

Question 16

What were the descriptive statistics for the control and experimental condition?

And why did you choose these certain statistics?

Answer 16

CONTROL GROUP: mean=5 / range=4

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP: mean=8 / range=4

+quick and easy
+appropriate for any data
+representative

Question 17

What graphical representation was used any why?

Answer 17

BAR CHART because it is representative of all data

Question 18

What statistical test is used and why?

Answer 18

MANN WHITNEY U
Difference looking at chameleon effect
Independent groups as used 2 groups
Ordinal data as scale was used

Question 19

Results of the statistical test

Answer 19

Observed value=1.5
Critical value= 7
Significant as observed value is lower than critical value

Question 20

CONCLUSION

Answer 20

There is a significant increase in score of likeability rating when the chameleon effect is used in interviews

Question 21

How to improve the study?

Answer 21

• Use ppts other than QE students so can be generalised further
• Use only one interviewer as there could be inconsistencies even though standarised procedures are used