1. The Campus as a Data Bank: College Students' Reactions to Social Scientific Experimentation; Research Implications. Final Report.
- Author
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California Univ., Santa Barbara. Dept. of Sociology., Straits, Bruce C., and Wuebben, Paul L.
- Abstract
Three separate projects related to the field of study known as the "social psychology of experimental situations" are the subject of this report. This field is based on the fact that an experiment with human subjects necessitates social interaction between experimenter and subject; thus the social nature of an experiment may have an impact on its scientific aspects. In the first project, a random sample of undergraduates at the University of California, Santa Barbara, were asked about their attitudes concerning social science experiments and other aspects of their college careers. Reactions to the experimentation were generally favorable, although most students placed little value on their own participation. The second project was a role-playing simulation of the "classic" Festinger-Carlsmith experiment on forced compliance. Results and conclusions paralleled the original study. The final project was a "real" laboratory experiment in which 2 variables were manipulated to explore why subjects tend to lie in post-experimental interviews. It was found that high apprehension and low commitment lead to greater honesty. Implications for further research are discussed. (JS)
- Published
- 1971