the false consensus effect :: essays research papers

Research Demonstration The False Consensus EffectIn science, we emphasise systematic, cargonful observation as a key toovercoming the limits of other methods of getting knowledge. That is, wetrust systematic observation more than we trust our own intuition. We dissolveactu all in ally investigate this issue. The following description provides you withthe details necessary to bearing a simple study to investigate the accuracy ofhuman intuitions.We oft believe that others are more corresponding ourselves than they really are. Thus, our expectancys about others beliefs or behaviors, based on casual observation, are very likelyto go astray in the direction of our own beliefs or behavior. For example, college schoolchilds whopreferred brown simoleons estimated that over 50% of all other college students preferredbrown bread, composition white-bread eaters estimated more accurately that 37% showed brownbread option (Ross, Greene, & Ho delectation, 1977). This is known as the pa radoxical consensuseffect (Ross et al., 1977 Mullen, Atkins, Champion, Edwards, Hardy, Story, & Vanderlok,1985). The false consensus effect provides the derriere for the following demonstration, whichemphasizes the need for systematic rather than casual observation.You can use the set of six questions, below, to investigate this. Before describing the falseconsensus effect, have friends, roommates or classmates (other classes, not PSY250)answer the questions listed below. Next, have students predict the UB undergraduatemean for all(prenominal) question. Keep a record of the responses for each person who participates.According to the false consensus effect, students predictions about the UB mean should beinfluenced by their own positions. Consequently, a student whose position is below the UBmean is likely to make a prediction that pull up stakes be below the UB mean as well.There are ethical constraints on the use of human participants that you must follow if you manage to try th is with people.1. Do not collect any identifying information on your participants. The answers tothese questions should be anonymous. Even though you may know the person, do notrecord any identifying information.2. When you ask someone to participate, explain the basic reputation of the study. Youwant to ask people how often they do certain things, like laundry, and how often they thinkother UB undergrads do these same things. You are doing this as part of a class on learningthe scientific method. If they participate, they will be asked to answer six questions aboutthemselves and other UB undergraduates. They can lead not to answer any question.Tell your prospective participant that all answers are anonymous and no informationidentifying them is being recorded.3.