Study Response – Social Facilitation in a Competitive Situation
1. What was the purpose of this study? The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects seen by social isolation could be isolated from the effects of rivalry when individuals compete in the presence of one another. (Evans, 1971) In a study conducted in 1924, Gordon Allport concluded that social facilitation and rivalry were both motivational factors when two individuals were competing against one another. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use performance on a foam board as well as tonic heart rate, which is heart rate that is measured over at least a 30 second period to determine the validity of Allport’s hypothesis. (Evans, 1971)
2. Describe the two paradigms mentioned in the study. Which paradigm was used in this study?
The two paradigms used in this study include the audience paradigm and the co-action paradigm. In the audience paradigm, the effects of an individual’s behavior when being observed is under consideration. (Evans, 1971) On the other hand, the co-action paradigm involves the effects on an individual's behavior resulting from the presence of others engaged in the same activity. The paradigm used in this study was the …show more content…
(Evans, 1971) The criterion trial was the one in which the data for the two variables (performance and heart rate) were collected. 20 participants were assigned to each of the four conditions which included were rivalry & social facilitation, rivalry & no social facilitation, no rivalry & social facilitation, and no rivalry & no social facilitation. (Evans, 1971) The factor of rivalry was introduced by presenting competitive instructions. As well, the factor of social facilitation was varied by controlling whether or not the participants could see or hear one another performing the tasks which they were
1. What was the purpose of this study? The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects seen by social isolation could be isolated from the effects of rivalry when individuals compete in the presence of one another. (Evans, 1971) In a study conducted in 1924, Gordon Allport concluded that social facilitation and rivalry were both motivational factors when two individuals were competing against one another. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use performance on a foam board as well as tonic heart rate, which is heart rate that is measured over at least a 30 second period to determine the validity of Allport’s hypothesis. (Evans, 1971)
2. Describe the two paradigms mentioned in the study. Which paradigm was used in this study?
The two paradigms used in this study include the audience paradigm and the co-action paradigm. In the audience paradigm, the effects of an individual’s behavior when being observed is under consideration. (Evans, 1971) On the other hand, the co-action paradigm involves the effects on an individual's behavior resulting from the presence of others engaged in the same activity. The paradigm used in this study was the …show more content…
(Evans, 1971) The criterion trial was the one in which the data for the two variables (performance and heart rate) were collected. 20 participants were assigned to each of the four conditions which included were rivalry & social facilitation, rivalry & no social facilitation, no rivalry & social facilitation, and no rivalry & no social facilitation. (Evans, 1971) The factor of rivalry was introduced by presenting competitive instructions. As well, the factor of social facilitation was varied by controlling whether or not the participants could see or hear one another performing the tasks which they were