Simon and Chabris (1999): Evaluation

Question 1

Strengths of research method

Answer 1

Controlled lab experiment= fulfill the scientific criteria of theory, control, evidence and replication.
EVs can be strictly controlled

Question 2

Weaknesses of research method

Answer 2

Lab= demand characteristics could influence ps

Question 3

Data

Answer 3

Quant data = easily summarised and comparable
Can be statistically analysed meaning study can be repeated in order to establish reliability
E.g SC report UW was noticed by 65%, where as G was noticed at a lower rate of 44%
They quantify overall level of inattentional blindness at 46%

Question 4

Ethics

Answer 4

Conducted within ethically guidelines.

• Informed consent was given and ps briefed about the tasks
• After the study they were debriefed and possibly shown video again

Question 5

Strengths of validity

Answer 5

Procedure and apparatus were standardised

Findings are concurrently valid with both computer based studies and Neisser’s UW video and this suggests that it is valid to conclude that ps can miss an UEE in a dynamic scene if their attention is elsewhere.

Question 6

Weaknesses of validity

Answer 6

Ps knew they were in a study, they may have tried to affect the outcome of the study. E.g they have seen a video like one shown before they would ‘try to look closer’, meaning that IAB was not accurately measured

Question 7

Ecological validity

Answer 7

SC were aiming to increase it but with it being a video, the EV was low and then results would only occur in a lab experiment and that IAB wouldn’t occur as often irl.
The opaque design was more realistic as findings could generalsied beyond the lab to irl.
but it was a filmed task, so not wholly eco valid.

Question 8

Reliability

Answer 8

A highly controlled lab experiment. It meets the criteria for scientific research that it is replicable in order for the reliability to be investigated. Can be replicated to see if there’s test-retest reliability.

The fact that their investigation shows how information in plain sight can be missed suggest that IAB is a reliable phenomenon (supported by evidence)

Question 9

Strengths of sample

Answer 9

• A sample of 228 was selected but results from 192 ps were reported. This is a large sample and enables the research to establish a trend in their findings, unaffected by ‘fluke’ results
• A student sample has the advantage of homogeneity (state of mind being the same) when allocated IMD, ps variables can be controlled
• Done at a uni so it’s quicker and cheaper

Question 10

Weakness of sample

Answer 10

• Students can create problems as they have higher cognitive abilities, thus failing to represent the gp
• Students have higher cognitive abilities and may outperform the gp on cognitive tasks such as selective attention

Question 11

Strengths of sampling method and biases

Answer 11

Volunteer sampling

• Very convenient as it is cheaper and less time consuming
• ps less likely to drop out if volunteered

Question 12

Weaknesses of sampling method and bias

Answer 12

-Volunteer bias may limit generalisability as it fails to represent the gp because the ps are especially interested in research, or maybe biased with demand characteristics to make study ‘work’ for the researcher

Question 13

Strengths and weaknesses of ethnocentrism

Answer 13

• Cognitive processes such as inattentional blindness depends of the physiognomy of the brain, we could argue that this study is not ethnocentric, since they are investigating a species-specific behaviour
• it is possible that findings only reflect how uni educated people’s cognitive processes work, since only students were studied.
• Students have ethnocentric biases as most students come from upper and middle social classes and other groups my perform differently on these tests

Question 14

Strengths and weaknesses of sampling method and sampling biases

Answer 14

• Volunteer sample means ps are less likely to drop out .
• It saves money and time

Volunteer bias limits generalisability. As ps may fail to present the gp as they are all interested in research or demand characteristics to make study work.

Question 15

Ethnocentrism

Answer 15

-On one hand, since cognitive process such as inattentional bias depends on the physiognomy of our brain, we could argue that such a study is not ethnocentric as they are investigating a species-specific behaviour

• On the other hand, it is possible that findings only reflect how university educates people’s cognitive process.
• Student sample has ethnocentric biases, as most students come from middle or upper classes and may out perform other classes.

Question 16

Individual vs situational

Answer 16

• The overall level of inattentional blindness recorded was 46% that more than half saw the UEE. Suggesting that there are individual differences in attention.
• The situation could affect inattentional blindness. Colour in this case, like the gorilla in the black condition, created similarly between the UEE and attended event making the gorilla seem noticeable. Suggesting that context hsa an impact on the attentional process

Question 17

Free will vs Determinism

Answer 17

We make the assumption that we act at our own free will on the evidence of our own eyes, yet this study demonstrates that our attentional process can influence such that we fail to see an object. Our cognitive processes has influence on our behaviour and are an influence over whixh we have no concious control over, suggesting that this is not freely chosen behaviour

Question 18

Psychology as a science

Answer 18

A controlled lab experiment and this fulfill the scientific criteria of theory, control, evidence and replication.
Got standardised procedure

Question 19

Links to area/perspective

Answer 19

Simons and Chabris study falls within the cognitive area as it is investigating the cognitive process of attention. Specifically, it aimed to investigate selective attention by trying to find out if an unexpected event that is in our central field of vision might be entirely missed if a person focuses their visual attention on a different feature of a visual event. This is a phenomenon called ‘inattentional blindness’

Question 20

Links to the key theme

Answer 20

In relation to the key theme of attention, Simons and Chabris’ study is a demonstration of visual selective attention. The study confirms the phenomenon of inattentional blindness in dynamic events. This study showed that not all information available to us in our visual field is processed, and that selective attention paid to one element of a scene may mean that others may not be paid attention to and people will therefore have no memory of these. Simons and Chabris suggests that their findings show attention to be an essential early cognitive process since without attention being paid it seems we do not consciously perceive information received by our senses.

Question 21

Similarities between Moray and SC

Answer 21

• High control lab experiment
• Samples included uni students
• Investigated selective attention
• ethical studies
• quant data

Question 22

Differences between Moray and SC

Answer 22

• M investigated auditory whilst SC investigated visual inattention
• Sample size: M at least 40 v SC 192
• SC used sophisticated technology whilst Moray used a modified tape recorder