Research Methodology and Studying Groups

SOCY 100: Introduction to Sociology
Montgomery College

In class, we have been exploring two major building blocks of sociology: research methodology/the science of sociology and the impact of groups and collectivities on our behavior. For this assignment you will bring these two topics together, analyzing a social scientific study that sheds light on the power of groups and authority figures. After having read about/watched/listened to a clip discussing a social scientific study, you will complete an assignment in which you discuss the components, major findings, and ethical implications of the research.

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Choose only one of the following three options for this assignment:

Option 1: Stanley Milgram “Obedience” Study (A summary of the study on YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W147ybOdgpE

Option 2: Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Study (A slide show with text and pictures [click on the “read the story” link at the bottom of the home page. You will be presented with an 8 page slideshow that includes text, pictures, and video. Scroll to the bottom of each page to move through the slideshow): http://www.prisonexp.org/

Option 3: “Fake TV Game Show ‘Tortures’ Man, Shocks France” (A podcast from NPR): https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124838091

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After having read Chapters 2 and 5 in your book and having watched/listened to one of the above explanations of a study, type responses to the following questions:
(It is best to use ONLY information from your textbook; do not try to find additional information online – it will likely be more of a detriment than a help. If you do, however, you MUST cite the webpage(s)/sources of information you used in your answer. I would prefer that you number each of your answers so it corresponds with the numbered questions, but if you are more comfortable typing your answers in a traditional paper format, you are welcome to do so.)

1. (15 points) In a paragraph or two, write a brief summary about the major components of the research. How was the study set up? Who were the participants? (Your explanation of the research should be clear enough that someone who may have never heard of this study would get a clear picture of how the research was done. This should also be in your own words.)

2. (5 points) If you were replicating this research, what would your hypothesis for the research be? Briefly explain why you think what you do.

3. (10 points) What is the dependent variable? Independent variable(s)? (Be clear about which is the independent and which is the dependent variable.) In a sentence or two, explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

4. (10 points) Which research method was used? Write a paragraph (or two) in which you discuss (at least) one strength of this research method for this project and (at least) one weakness of this research method for this project. Do you think another research method would have been a better method by which to answer the research question? Why or why not?

5. (15 points) Discuss the results of the research. What were the findings of the study? (How did the subjects behave?)

6. (25 points) Write 1-3 paragraphs in which you discuss the implications of the findings. In other words, how does this research add to our understanding of the extent to which groups and/or authority can have power over behavior?
a. In your discussion of the implications of the research, use information from Chapter 5 in order to argue the ways by which this research demonstrates the power of groups/authority on an individual’s behavior.
b. You must use at least two concepts/terms/theories from Chapter 5. Be sure that these terms are relevant to the study’s findings and that you show you understand the concept/term/theory in your writing. You must bold or underline the concept/term/theory that you use or else it will not be counted.

7. (20 points) In 1-2 paragraphs, write whether or not you think this research was ethical. What were the specific ethical issues posed in this research? Do the ends (the study’s findings and implications) justify the means? Why do you believe what you do?

A few notes about the assignment:
· You should only be using your Textbook and the link (posted on the first page of this assignment) for your sources. There is no need to use other material to complete this assignment. If, however, you do use outside/additional sources, you MUST BE SURE TO CITE. Using the ideas of others without giving the proper credit (citing) is a form of plagiarism which, according to Montgomery College policy, will result in an F for the assignment and perhaps an F for the course.

Ø For help with citation procedures, please check out some of these websites:
http://libguides.montgomerycollege.edu/apa
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/.
http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/integrity/pages/cite/.

· Your assignment should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font. (As noted above, you are encouraged to number your answers to correspond with the questions, but are also welcome to use a more traditional paper format.)

• Your assignment is due by midnight. Please be sure to submit your paper to SafeAssign by then and use your name in the title of your assignment. (If you think you are having difficulty with the assignment and/or meeting the deadline, please get in touch with me before the due date for the paper.)

• Read, re-read, and re-read. Make sure that you have proofread your paper! Pay particular attention to spelling and grammar. Use this paper as a way to practice getting your writing very clear and concise.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the assignment. I welcome the opportunity to get to know you better and help you to make the most out of this writing exercise.

ANSWER

Research Methodology and Studying Groups: Fake TV Show

Name of the student

Research Methodology and Studying Groups: Fake TV Show

1. The research in this case study was performed in the form of a fictitious game and reality show. It involved a fictitious psychological experiment where a man was electrocuted falsify by contestants and witnessed by people in the audience. The objective was to identify the lengths people would go to ensure legal compliance or authority obedience. The experiment was set up in France, with an actor playing the fake tortured or electrocuted man, which would occur whenever he answered questions incorrectly(Beardsley, 2010).
2. My hypothesis would be, “People with increased personal fortitude, legal compliance, and high authority obedience will electrocute the player more through increased voltage and longer time until the offender answers the questions correctly without being compromised by his pain.” Coming up with this hypothesis is because I would do the same thing.
3. The independent variable in my hypothesis is participants, while the dependent variables are time and voltage rates. The relationship between these variables is casual, whereby if a person has high authority obedience, they will cause the action of using increased voltage rates and increased time until compliance and obedience are achieved and vice versa.
4. The research used the experimental research method, as they involved a selected group of participants to investigate a cause and effect under controlled circumstances. Besides, in the link, we find that the research was referred to as a psychological experiment. One primary strength of this method is that the researchers could control the identified variables, and human beings can easily partake in the tests. A notable weakness is the possibility of acquiring results that are one-sided or based on a single situation/condition, making it challenging to replicate the research. No other research method would have been better, as the experimental method generates quantitative data, which is essential, enabling useful measurement of variables.
5. The research found that people enjoyed violence and pain as forms of entertainment, as 80% of the contestants maintained the electrocution and zapping even when the player screamed out of pain. It also found that some of the participants did not understand and could not explain why they kept zapping the volts and electrocuting the player. Concisely, the research shows that contestants were motivated by the continuous screaming and yelling out of the player’s pain.
6. The findings communicate the role of media in promoting an image-based system, where TVs overpower people and TVs-owned organizations are normative organizationswilling to go to extents of portraying violence and torture for amusements among their audiences and rating. This image-based system has compromised the traditional cultural institutions and exploited or influenced individual weaknesses presenting an arena for people to actualize their dreams and wishful thinking in reality, yet it is all planned and false. This research shows the dire need and envisages of people acquiring power, their control manners, and utilization.

This explanation aligns with the reference groups as the power of groups that highly influence behavior among consumers or participants (Chambliss & Eglitis, 2017). A contestant may have emulated how the military and law enforcers are portrayed in movies, books, or dominant ideologies. The torture and increased pain caused to suspects for criminal or violent behavior and information extraction show the power law-enforcers have. They use the power to enforce authority obedience, which is an example of conformity to groups.

7. The question of ethical observance is subjective. In my opinion, it was ethical. Using the utilitarian ethical theory, the means used by hiding the “falsified” aspect enabled actual results to be captured, and minimal errors or biases experienced that could have resulted from pretense if they knew. The end was good, as the researchers achieved ‘good’ results even though they used false and presence means.

The video shows the effects of the image-based system created through the media, such as in TVs and the impact of power groups through the authority they have over people’s behavior in society. I once read that these organizations are effective in manipulation and influence of behavior in two ways, their ability to manipulate and our contributions as participants. This is explained through the contestants’ participation.

References

Beardsley, E. (2010, March 18). Fake TV Game Show ‘Tortures’ Man, Shocks France. Retrieved from npr: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124838091

Chambliss, W., & Eglitis, D. (2017). 5 Groups, Organizations, and Bureaucracies. In Discover Sociology 3rd Edition (pp. 348-105). SAGE.