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Based on observing more than 400 drivers in the Atlanta area, two investigators at Georgia State University concluded that people exiting parking spaces did so more slowly when a driver in another car was waiting for the space than when no one was waiting ("Territorial Defense in Parking Lots: Retaliation Against Waiting Drivers," Journal of Applied Social Psychology [1997]:\(821-834\) ). Describe how you might design an experiment to determine whether this phenomenon is true for your city. What is the response variable? What are some extraneous factors and how does your design control for them?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The response variable in the experiment is the time it takes for drivers to exit a parking space. Extraneous factors may include time of day, type of car, driver's age, gender, skill level, and the level of crowd in the parking lot. These can be controlled for by observing at various times and choosing to observe only drivers of a similar age, gender, and car type.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Response Variable

The response variable is the key outcome that is being measured in a study. In this case, the response variable is the time it takes for drivers to exit a parking space.
02

Identify Extraneous Factors

Extraneous variables are factors other than the independent variable that may affect the outcome of the study. In this case, potential extraneous variables might include the time of day, the type of car, the driver's age, gender, or skill level, and whether the parking lot is crowded or not.
03

Design the Experiment

To design the experiment, select a similar number of parking lots throughout the city to observe. This should be done at various times of day to control for the time of day. To minimize the impact of the driver's age, gender, skills, and car type, try to isolate these variables as much as possible. This can be done, for example, by choosing to observe only drivers of a similar age, gender, and car type.
04

Control for Extraneous Variables

To control for extraneous variables, ensure that only the driver's behavior (fast or slow exiting) is altered while everything else remains constant. However, complete control over all factors may not be entirely possible in this naturalistic observation.

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Key Concepts

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

Response Variable
Understanding the 'response variable' is crucial in any experimental design. In simple terms, the response variable is the primary outcome that researchers aim to analyze. It is the effect or reaction that is being studied, typically influenced by the independent variable. For instance, when assessing how quickly drivers leave parking spaces, the time each driver takes to exit is the response variable. It is a measurable change that provides valuable data for statistical analysis.

To ensure the accuracy of the experiment, the choice of response variable must be clear and consistent, with each instance of measurement standardized to prevent confusion. Accurately measuring the response variable is essential for drawing valid conclusions in any scientific inquiry.
Extraneous Variables
In the realm of experimental design, 'extraneous variables' play a significant role. These are all the other variables, aside from the independent variable, that might influence the outcome of the study. For the experiment concerning the exit time of drivers from a parking space, such extraneous factors could include, but are not limited to, vehicle size, driver's mood, or even weather conditions.

Identifying these variables is a step towards a more reliable experiment as it helps researchers account for other factors that might skew results. The objective is to isolate the independent variable's effect and ensure that the response variable reflects changes due to the independent variable alone.
Control in Experiments
The concept of 'control in experiments' refers to the methodology researchers use to eliminate or reduce the impact of extraneous variables. By maintaining control, researchers aim to single out the independent variable’s effects on the response variable, allowing for a more accurate analysis. In the parking lot scenario, control could be exerted by observing at consistent times or selecting participants with similar characteristics.

Although it is often challenging to achieve perfect control, especially in natural settings, researchers strive to minimize the influence of extraneous factors. Techniques such as randomization, matching, and holding certain factors constant are among the strategies used to maintain control within an experimental framework.
Naturalistic Observation
When researchers conduct a 'naturalistic observation', they observe and record behavior in its natural environment, without manipulation or intervention. This method is distinguished by its non-intrusive nature; the observer takes a passive role, simply gathering data as actions occur spontaneously. For our investigation into parking behaviors, a naturalistic observation would imply watching drivers without them being aware of the study, hence capturing genuine behavior.

One of the strengths of naturalistic observation is its ability to provide insights into complex social behaviors, but it can also introduce challenges in controlling extraneous variables. Despite these challenges, the depth of real-world context it provides can be invaluable to understanding human behavior.

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