Explain the use of one research method in one study of the individual and the group

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

One research method commonly used in studies of the individual and the group is the laboratory experiment. This method involves manipulating an independent variable under controlled conditions to measure its effect on a dependent variable. Laboratory experiments allow researchers to isolate specific variables and determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 1

study

Answer 1

A clear example of this method is seen in Steele and Aronson’s (1995) study, which aimed to investigate the effects of stereotype threat on academic performance in African American students. The researchers recruited 114 Black and White undergraduate students from Stanford University and randomly assigned them to one of two conditions. In the stereotype threat condition, participants were told the test measured verbal ability (activating a stereotype about African Americans’ academic performance). In the non-threat condition, participants were told the test measured problem-solving skills. All participants took the same test, but the results showed that Black participants performed significantly worse in the stereotype threat condition, whereas their scores were equal to White participants in the non-threat condition.

Question 2

Link

Answer 2

Using a laboratory experiment allowed Steele and Aronson to control extraneous variables and ensure consistency across testing conditions. The only key difference between the two conditions was the way the test was described. This control allowed the researchers to infer a cause-and-effect relationship between stereotype activation and performance. The artificial setting may reduce ecological validity, but the reliability and internal validity of the data are strengthened. Overall, the use of a laboratory experiment in this study provided strong evidence that group-based stereotypes can influence individual behavior.