Several Studies Have Shown That Feelings of Empathy Motivate Altruistic

question 21

Essay

Several studies have shown that feelings of empathy motivate altruistic behavior. The 2002 GSS showed a correlation of .19 between the Davis Empathy Scale and a composite measure of altruistic behavior based on whether respondents had engaged in 15 different activities during the past year. Among these activities were giving directions, giving money to charity, helping carry a stranger's belongings, and donating blood. This modest association may reflect difficulties in measuring altruistic behavior. Identify two possible sources of error in the GSS measure of altruistic behavior and carefully explain how each could introduce random or systematic measurement error.

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Definitions:

Total Parenteral Nutrition

A method of feeding that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, providing nutrition directly into the bloodstream through intravenous infusion.

Gastrostomy Feedings

The process of delivering nutrition directly into the stomach through a tube, used when someone cannot eat by mouth.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula

An abnormal connection (fistula) between the trachea and the esophagus, which can lead to breathing and feeding difficulties and often requires surgical correction.

Replogle Tube

A dual-lumen tube used primarily in neonates for gastric decompression and to remove gastric secretions.