A researcher has pairs of college student participants play a card game in the laboratory. However, the game is rigged to ensure that one participant experiences a long losing streak so that the researcher can observe how the losing students behave when they are frustrated. For this study, what kind of behavioral observation is being used?
A) Naturalistic observation
B) Participant observation
C) Contrived observation
D) Unstructured observation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The researcher has rigged the game to induce frustration in one participant, which means that the situation is contrived rather than natural. The researcher is observing the behavior of the participants under this specific and controlled condition, which is the essence of contrived observation. Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in a more natural setting without manipulating variables, and participant observation involves the observer becoming a part of the group being observed. Unstructured observation does not apply to this situation, as the researcher has set up a specific context for the observation.

A Researcher Has Pairs of College Student Participants Play a Card