In Each Trial of an Experiment, Participants See a Warning

question 28

Multiple Choice

In each trial of an experiment, participants see a warning signal and then, a half second later, see a pair of letters. The participants press one button if the letters are the same (e.g., W W ) and a different button if the letters are different (e.g., P X ) . In 80% of the trials, the warning signal is identical to the letters that will be shown on that trial. The following are the warning signals and the test stimuli presented on Trial 97 of the procedure. Group 1: warning signal = L; test pair = L L
Group 2: warning signal = U; test pair = L L
Group 3: warning signal = +; test pair = L L
In this setup we should expect the fastest responses from

• A) Group 3 and slowest responses from Group 2.
• B) Group 1 and slowest responses from Group 3.
• C) Group 1 and slowest responses from Group 2.
• D) Group 1 and no difference between Groups 2 and 3.

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Definitions:

Norman Triplett

A psychologist known for conducting one of the earliest experiments in social psychology about the effects of competition on performance.

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Rowing Machines

Exercise equipment that simulates the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing.

Max Ringelmann

A French agricultural engineer who discovered that individuals exert less effort on a task when they work in a group compared to when working alone, known as the Ringelmann effect.