cognitive priming AO3

Question 1

evaluation of cognitive priming - confounding variables (limitation)

Answer 1

• confounding variables in research
• research into the effects of video games has found that playing violet games primes violent behaviour more than non-violent games do.
• the problem is that violent games tend to much more complex in their gameplay than non-violent games and this complexity is a confounding variable (I.e it is the complexity that causes the priming effect not the violence)
• zendle et al found that when complexity was controlled, the priming effects of violent video games disappeared.
• therefore, the supportive findings of studies into priming may not be at least partly due to confounding variables

Question 2

evaluation of cognitive priming - research support (strength)

Answer 2

• is research support.
• fisher and greitemeyer looked at priming of aggressive scripts in memory by investigating song lyrics.
• male participants listened to songs featuring aggressive lyrics about women. compared to when they listened to neutral lyrics, they were more negative about women and behaved more aggressive to a female confederate.
• this demonstrates that aggression can be primed through the watching of violent films.