Bagby and Rector (1992)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate in-group bias in groups that already exist (To see if one’s social identity would influence objectivity in determining the guilt of a defendant accused of rape)

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

Quasi experiment

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

102 psychology students from the University of Quebec in Monteral (27% male + all bilingual)

Question 4

Variables

Answer 4

Independent – The ethnicity of the defendant vs victim
Dependent – Questionnaire results

Question 5

Key factors of the experiment

Answer 5

• Asked to read a transcript of rape trial that varied the ethnicity of the defendant and the victim
• Randomly allocated to conditions
• Asked to complete a questionnaire
• If they got final question wrong about ethnicity of the defendant and the victim, they were omitted from the sample (control)
• Chi squared used (no gender difference in results)

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

• French Canadians rated the out-group (English) defendant more guilty when the victim was from their in-group (French)

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

• Groups that occur naturally -> not limited to artificially created groups
• Artificial
• Control used
• Sampling bias
• Intelligence, social skills, age could affect study
• One crime used + emotional topic (may have an influence on responses)