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A study was conducted to see whether participants would ignore a sign that said, "Elevator may stick between floors. Use the stairs." The study was done at a university dorm on the ground floor of a three-level building. Those who used the stairs were said to be compliant, and those who used the elevator were said to be noncompliant. There were three possible situations, two of which involved confederates. A confederate is a person who is secretly working with the experimenter. In the first situation, there was no confederate. In the second situation, there was a compliant confederate (one who used the stairs), and in the third situation, there was a noncompliant confederate (one who used the elevator). The subjects tended to imitate the confederates. What more do you need to know about the study to determine whether the presence or absence of a confederate causes a change in the compliance of subjects? (Source: Wogalter et al. [1987], reported in Shaffer and Merrens, Research Stories in Introductory Psychology [Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001])

Step by step solution

01

Identify Potential Variables

First, evaluate all the potential variables in the study. These would include the behavior of the subjects, the presence or absence of a confederate, and the behavior of the confederate (compliant or non-compliant).

02

Determine Missing Information

Next, identify the missing information that could help determine whether the presence or absence of a confederate causes a change in compliance. Such information could include the total number of subjects, the number of subjects who complied or didn't comply in each situation, and if any additional (unknown to the subjects) factors were controlled or not.

03

Consider the Need for Additional Experiments

Consider if further experiments are required for more conclusive results. This could mean running the same tests but with an increased number of subjects, different environments, or additional control methods for other potential influences.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Compliant Behavior

Compliant behavior in psychology refers to actions where individuals follow instructions, rules, or norms. It's an important concept, often indicating conformity to authority or group norms. In experiments like the elevator study, those who chose to take the stairs despite the convenience of the elevator were deemed compliant. The reasons behind this behavior can be varied.

Common factors influencing compliance include:

• Authority: Individuals might comply when they perceive instructions come from an authoritative source.
• Social Proof: People are more likely to follow suit when they see others doing the same.
• Cognitive Dissonance: To maintain internal consistency, people might align their actions with their beliefs about what is safe or right.

Recognizing compliant behavior is crucial for psychologists as it helps grasp how group dynamics influence individual choices.

Noncompliant Behavior

Noncompliant behavior occurs when individuals actively choose not to adhere to prescribed rules or norms. In the study referenced, non-compliant individuals ignored the warning sign and used the elevator instead of the stairs. Understanding this behavior is essential for several reasons.

There are multiple factors that might contribute to noncompliance:

• Risk Assessment: Individuals may evaluate potential risks differently, feeling that certain warnings are exaggerated.
• Personal Beliefs: Strong personal convictions can override general instructions if they conflict.
• Influence of Others: Observing others engaging in noncompliant behavior can make it seem more acceptable or low-risk.

Analyzing why people defy norms despite obvious warnings can help in areas like safety protocols and behavioral interventions.

Confederates in Experiments

Confederates play a strategic role in psychological experiments as they help simulate natural or controlled social influences without the subject knowing. They are persons who partake in the study but are secretly aligned with the experimenter’s goals.

In the elevator experiment, confederates were used to observe how their displayed behavior affected subjects:

• Compliant Confederate: By following the sign, they set a pattern of behavior that subjects might imitate.
• Noncompliant Confederate: Acting against the sign to see if subjects are swayed to do the same.

The presence of confederates is crucial for identifying the power of suggestion and conformity within human interactions. Their role allows researchers to explore complex social phenomena in a controlled setting, unveiling the undercurrents of human behavior.

Variables in Psychological Studies

Variables are critical components of psychological research. They represent the changing elements or factors that can influence the outcome of experiments. In any psychological study, understanding and categorizing variables is essential for constructing a robust experiment.

In the elevator study, the potential variables included:

• Independent Variable: Presence or absence of a confederate. This is the element altered by researchers to observe changes in behavior.
• Dependent Variable: Behavior of the subjects (compliant or noncompliant use of the elevator or stairs).
• Control Variables: Elements kept constant to ensure that any observed changes are due to the independent variable's manipulation, such as location or time of day.

By carefully analyzing variables, researchers can draw meaningful conclusions regarding cause and effect in human behavior. It ensures results are valid, reliable, and applicable in a broader context.