Lecture 18 - Triplett Flashcards
Who is considered the first person to publish a study in social psychology?
Norman Triplett, in 1898.
What sport inspired Triplett’s interest in studying performance in groups?
Cycling.
What did Triplett observe about cyclists’ performance?
Cyclists rode faster when competing against others or pacing with others than when riding alone
What percentage improvement was seen in races against others compared to unpaced races?
26% faster (about 40 seconds/mile).
What was the “competition machine” used in Triplett’s experiment?
Two fishing reels pulling a flag over a 4m track, reeled rapidly by children.
What was the age range and sample size in Triplett’s experiment?
40 children, aged 8–17 years.
What were the two experimental conditions in Triplett’s design?
Performing the task alone vs. in competition with another child.
What were the three groups identified in Triplett’s results?
- Positively stimulated (faster in competition)
- Overstimulated (slower in competition)
- Little affected (no difference)
What limitation did Triplett identify in his cycling data analysis?
Differences might reflect the type of riders who choose different race types, not the pacing alone.
What did Strube’s 2005 reanalysis of Triplett’s data show?
A small but statistically significant competition effect (1.81% improvement, p = .048), only in one specific trial.
What is the Ringelmann Effect?
The tendency for individual effort to decrease as group size increases, observed in rope-pulling tasks.
What theory did Robert Zajonc propose to explain social facilitation?
Drive theory: Arousal from others enhances dominant responses (helps with simple tasks, hinders complex ones).
What is social loafing?
The reduction of individual effort when working in a group, especially when individual performance isn’t easily identifiable.
What is social inhibition?
A decline in performance on complex or unfamiliar tasks in the presence of others.
How did Triplett’s research model good scientific practice?
It used multiple methods, competing theories, precision, real-world relevance, and controlled variables.
How might working from home affect social facilitation?
Likely less social facilitation, potentially reducing performance on routine tasks.
What are the pros and cons of open-plan offices in terms of social psychology?
Pros: Increased social facilitation for routine tasks, easier collaboration.
Cons: Risk of social loafing or overstimulation on complex tasks.
