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Chapter 2: Problem 39

In many digital environments, users are allowed to choose how they are represented visually online. Does how people are represented online affect online behavior? This question was examined by the authors of the paper "The Proteus Effect: The Effect of Transformed Self-Representation on Behavior" (Human Communication Research [2007]: 271-290). Participants were randomly assigned either an attractive avatar (a graphical image that represents a person) to represent them or an unattractive avatar. a. The researchers concluded that when interacting with a person of the opposite gender in an online virtual environment, those assigned an attractive avatar moved significantly closer to the other person than those who had been assigned an unattractive avatar. This difference was attributed to the attractiveness of the avatar. Explain why the researchers would not have been able to reach this conclusion if participants had been allowed to choose one of the two avatars (attractive, unattractive) to represent them online. b. Construct a diagram to represent the underlying structure of this experiment.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The conclusions might not have been valid if participants chose their avatar because it could introduce confounding variables influencing the outcome. An experimental diagram would show participants randomly assigned to Attractive or Unattractive Avatar conditions, with their behavior in a virtual environment being measured.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the importance of random assignment

In experimental studies, random assignment of participants to different experimental conditions is crucial because it ensures each participant has an equal chance of being placed into any group. This minimizes the influence of confounding variables, or variables other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable. If participants were allowed to choose their avatars, those who choose attractive avatars might have different characteristics from those who choose unattractive avatars, such as higher self-confidence or sociability. This could influence the outcome, making it unclear whether the observed effect is due to the avatar's attractiveness or the participant's characteristics.
02

Constructing the experimental diagram

To construct a diagram representing the experiment, first label one rectangle as 'Participants'. Draw two arrows from this rectangle to two other rectangles labeled 'Attractive Avatar' and 'Unattractive Avatar'. These represent the two experimental conditions to which participants can be randomly assigned. From each of these rectangles, draw an arrow to a final rectangle labeled 'Behavior in Virtual Environment'. This represents the dependent variable, which is the behavior that the researchers are interested in measuring.

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Key Concepts

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

Random Assignment
In experimental research, random assignment is the cornerstone that helps ensure the reliability and validity of the study's results. By assigning participants to different groups (e.g., those given an attractive or unattractive avatar) purely by chance, researchers can reduce the risk that other factors, known as confounding variables, will skew the data.

Imagine flipping a coin to decide whether a participant will represent themselves with an attractive or unattractive avatar. This kind of randomness allows each participant an equal chance of being in either group, controlling for unintended biases that may arise from allowing participants to choose for themselves. For instance, if individuals chose their own avatars, their inherent preferences or self-perceptions could influence their behavior, which would make it difficult to attribute changes in behavior to the avatar's attractiveness alone.
Confounding Variables
Confounding variables are the hidden factors that can cause researchers to make false assumptions about cause and effect. These variables can accidentally influence the dependent variable and give the illusion that there is a relationship with the independent variable.

Using the provided exercise as an example, if participants were allowed to select their avatar, confounding variables such as self-esteem or prior experiences in virtual environments could influence how closely they approached others. Their behavior could be a result of these underlying characteristics rather than the attractiveness of the avatar itself. Through random assignment, the experiment aims to evenly distribute any such confounding variables across both the attractive and unattractive avatar groups, thereby 'averaging them out' and minimizing their impact on the study's outcome.
Dependent Variable
The dependent variable in an experiment is the outcome that researchers measure to determine if it changes under different conditions. It depends on the manipulation of the independent variable, which in this case is the attractiveness of the avatar. The experiment measures how the appearance of the avatar affects the way participants behave in a virtual environment.

The change in the distance between avatars during interaction, as noted by the researchers, is a concrete example of a dependent variable. It isn't just any change in behavior that's being measured; it's a specific, observable action that can be directly linked to the design of the avatar, thereby giving insight into the psychology of online interactions and the Proteus Effect.
Proteus Effect
The Proteus Effect is a phenomenon observed in virtual environments where the appearance of an individual's avatar influences their behavior. Typically named after the Greek god who could change his form at will, this effect suggests that users might adopt characteristics or behaviors congruent with their digital self-representation.

In the context of the given study, participants with more attractive avatars moving closer to others could be manifesting increased sociability or confidence, traits often associated with attractiveness. This aligns with the Proteus Effect 鈥� the external appearance of the avatar has an inwards psychological influence, changing how individuals perceive themselves and subsequently how they act in a social context.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

For each of the situations described, state whether the sampling procedure is simple random sampling, stratified random sampling, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, or convenience sampling. a. All first-year students at a university are enrolled in 1 of 30 sections of a seminar course. To select a sample of freshmen at this university, a researcher selects four sections of the seminar course at random from the 30 sections and all students in the four selected sections are included in the sample. b. To obtain a sample of students, faculty, and staff at a university, a researcher randomly selects 50 faculty members from a list of faculty, 100 students from a list of students, and 30 staff members from a list of staff. c. A university researcher obtains a sample of students at his university by using the 85 students enrolled in his Psychology 101 class. d. To obtain a sample of the seniors at a particular high school, a researcher writes the name of each senior on a slip of paper, places the slips in a box and mixes them, and then selects 10 slips. The students whose names are on the selected slips of paper are included in the sample. e. To obtain a sample of those attending a basketball game, a researcher selects the 24 th person through the door. Then, every 50 th person after that is also included in the sample.

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of Sweet Talk, a text messaging support system for patients with diabetes ("A Randomized Controlled Trial of Sweet Talk," Diabetic Medicine \([2 \mathrm{OO} 6]: 1332-1338) .\) Participants in the experiment were 92 patients, age 8 to \(18,\) with type I diabetes who had been on conventional insulin treatment for at least one year. Participants were assigned at random to one of three experimental groups: Group 1: continued conventional insulin therapy Group 2: continued conventional insulin therapy with Sweet Talk support Group 3: followed a new intensive insulin therapy with Sweet Talk support One response variable was a measure of glucose concentration in the blood. There was no significant difference in glucose concentration between groups 1 and \(2,\) but group 3 showed a significant improvement in this measure compared to groups 1 and 2 . a. Explain why it is not reasonable to attribute the observed improvement in group 3 compared to group 1 to the use of Sweet Talk, even though subjects were randomly assigned to the three experimental groups. b. How would you modify this experiment so that you could tell if improvement in glucose concentration was attributable to the intensive insulin therapy, the use of Sweet Talk, or a combination of the two? c. Draw a diagram showing the structure of the modified experiment from Part (b).

Whether or not to continue a Mardi Gras Parade through downtown San Luis Obispo, CA, is a hotly debated topic. The parade is popular with students and many residents, but some celebrations have led to complaints and a call to eliminate the parade. The local newspaper conducted online and telephone surveys of its readers and was surprised by the results. The survey web site received more than 400 responses, with more than \(60 \%\) favoring continuing the parade, while the telephone response line received more than 120 calls, with more than \(90 \%\) favoring banning the parade (San Luis Obispo Tribune, March 3, 2004). What factors may have contributed to these very different results?

The article "Display of Health Risk Behaviors on MySpace by Adolescents" (Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine [2009]:27-34) described a study in which researchers looked at a random sample of 500 publicly accessible MySpace web profiles posted by 18-year-olds. The content of each profile was analyzed. One of the conclusions reported was that displaying sport or hobby involvement was associated with decreased references to risky behavior (sexual references or references to substance abuse or violence). a. Is the study described an observational study or an experiment? b. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all 18 -year-olds with a publicly accessible MySpace web profile? What aspect of the study supports your answer? c. Not all MySpace users have a publicly accessible profile. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all 18-year-old MySpace users? Explain. d. Is it reasonable to generalize the stated conclusion to all MySpace users with a publicly accessible profile? Explain.

Pismo Beach, California, has an annual clam festival that includes a clam chowder contest. Judges rate clam chowders from local restaurants, and the judging is done in such a way that the judges are not aware of which chowder is from which restaurant. One year, much to the dismay of the seafood restaurants on the waterfront, Denny's chowder was declared the winner! (When asked what the ingredients were, the cook at Denny's said he wasn't sure- - he just had to add the right amount of nondairy creamer to the soup stock that he got from Denny's distribution center!) a. Do you think that Denny's chowder would have won the contest if the judging had not been "blind?" Explain. b. Although this was not an experiment, your answer to Part (a) helps to explain why those measuring the response in an experiment are often blinded. Using your answer in Part (a), explain why experiments are often blinded in this way.
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