Topic 1 Social - Practical Investigation

Question 1

What’s the aim?

Answer 1

To investigate whether people in one age group will hold negative attitudes about people in a different age group( younger vs older)

Question 2

Why is this investigation important?

Answer 2

• Linked to social identity theory

- Allows us to investigate in-group favouritism without risking offence

Question 3

What’s the alternate hypothesis?

Answer 3

Both older and younger people (as measured through age>35 years and younger than <21 years) will show higher levels of in-group favouritism and out group hostility.

Question 4

How do you design an effective questionnaire

Answer 4

1. Quantitative data- CLOSED questions relating to the aim and the hypothesis. Scores will be totalled so that each P will get a rating.
2. Pilot study- To test drive the questionnaire on a small sample of people (friends/family) Any questions which have been phrased incorrectly and that may cause offence, are changed.
3. Qualitative data- story completion- asking participants to complete a story. To detect all underlying attitudes that people may have without directly asking them questions.
4. Qualitative data- Open questions- e.g)
   Altruism means being kind without wanting things in return. In your opinion, are older or younger people more likely to show altruism in society?

Question 5

What sampling decisions should you take?

Answer 5

• target sampling (50/50 older & younger ppl)
• opportunity sampling -> Use a first come, first served system to get as many participants as we can in the limited time available.

Question 6

For Ethical Considerations, sampling brief/debrief is carried out, what do you do?

Answer 6

Scoring Key:

1. Deciding whether the item on the questionnaire is asking about an attitude to in the in-group/out-group
2. Deciding whether the response are positive or negative
3. Determining the actual score - where the participant chooses option 1 or 5, a score of 2 is rewarded. Where they choose options 2 or 4, a score of 1 is awarded and if they choose option 3 , a score of 0 is given

Coding to tally scores:
1. We have a central tally sheet for all of our younger and a separate one for older.

Question 7

What is the summary?

Answer 7

Our mean results for both younger and older respondents suggest that in terms of IN GROUP positivity, both groups favour their own group more than they do the other (OUT) group. In group negativity was also lower for both groups, but the OLDER participants showed much higher levels of outgroup negativity than the YOUNGER participants (2.7 vs 3.5 on the scaled scores)

Question 8

What is the summary for older pps?

Answer 8

Older: We analysed the story completion and found a general balance between positive and negative themes (prosocial behaviour vs deviance and crime) and also a balance between conflict and teamwork. This suggests that, like our quantitative analysis, older Ps see younger Ps in a largely negative light BUT also more positivity than the quantitative analysis first suggested. This PARTLY supports our hypothesis

Question 9

What is the summary for younger pps?

Answer 9

Younger: We analysed the story completion and found a reference to both generosity and crime. Overall there was a balance in these themes with younger Ps. This suggests that, like our quantitative analysis, younger Ps see themselves as both helpful but also some deviancy. This supports our quantitative analysis (reliability) but also, this PARTLY supports our hypothesis

Question 10

What are the Strengths?

Answer 10

Effective Questionnaire Design:

- gathered both quantitative and qualitative data -> detailed responses and also objective responses

Question 11

What are the Weaknesses?

Answer 11

Sample:

• lack of balance -> more younger than older pps
• older pps from a sample of teachers (opportunity) -> may be more biased in favour of the younger out group than other adults
• > reduced validity & generalisability