A researcher is interested in interpersonal attraction and the factors that affect it. She designs a study in which she looks at the effect of similarity and social warmth on interpersonal attraction. Participants in her study meet a target person who either is or is not similar to the participant (the similarity variable) and who is either friendly or aloof (the social warmth variable). After interacting with the target person under these conditions, participants are then asked to rate how attractive they think the target person is. Which of the following is most likely the hypothesis in this study?
A) People who are attractive and similar to their interaction partner will be perceived as friendlier than people who are attractive and not similar to their interaction partner.
B) People who are aloof and not similar to their interaction partner will be perceived as less attractive than people who are friendly and similar to their interaction partner.
C) People who are unattractive will be perceived as less friendly than people who are attractive.
D) People who are not similar to their interaction partner will be perceived as less friendly than people who are similar to their interaction partner.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hypothesis of the study is focused on the effect of similarity and social warmth on interpersonal attraction. Option B clearly states that the study examines the relationship between these variables and predicts that people who are aloof and not similar to their interaction partner will be perceived as less attractive than people who are friendly and similar to their interaction partner. Option A talks about the effect of attraction and similarity on friendliness, which is not the focus of the study. Option C talks about the effect of attractiveness on friendliness, which is not relevant to the study. Option D is too general and does not specify the variables focused on in the study.

A Researcher Is Interested in Interpersonal Attraction and the Factors