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Researchers wanted to investigate whether prosocial behaviour was similar cross-culturally and whether this trait increases as people become adults - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 2
Researchers wanted to investigate whether prosocial behaviour was similar cross-culturally and whether this trait increases as people become adults. They recruited 3... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Researchers wanted to investigate whether prosocial behaviour was similar cross-culturally and whether this trait increases as people become adults - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Analyse the data provided in Figure 1 to explain two conclusions that the researchers in the prosocial behaviour and culture study may draw from these results.
Answer
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The data in Figure 1 shows that Fijian children aged 9 to 14 years are more likely to share rewards compared to American children in the same age group. For example, Fijian children display a significantly higher likelihood, indicating that they exhibit more prosocial behaviour than their American counterparts.
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Additionally, when examining adults, Fijian adults show a sharing likelihood of approximately 35% compared to only around 15% for American adults. This suggests that cultural factors in Fiji may foster greater levels of prosocial behaviour among adults than in American society.
Step 2
Explain two weaknesses of using a laboratory experiment in the prosocial behaviour and culture study.
Answer
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One potential weakness of a laboratory experiment is the artificial setting in which it occurs. Participants may not behave naturally due to the controlled environment, potentially compromising the ecological validity of the findings. As a result, observed behaviours might not accurately reflect real-world prosocial actions.
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Another weakness is the possibility of demand characteristics influencing participants' decisions. If participants are aware that the study is about prosocial behaviour, they may guess the purpose of the research and modify their choices accordingly, which could lead to biased results.