|
Select values for Stage 1 variables. Skip to stage 2. Return to the expersim index. Social FacilitationWhile there may be no way of defining the most complex social situation it is fairly clear that the minimum social situation is one in which two (2) organisms are in some proximity to one another. Certainly this represents the basis on which other levels of interaction are built, be they human or infra human social exchanges. And it may be that the understanding of higher levels requires an insight to consequences for the organism of merely being in a social situation.Triplett notes in 1898 that performance among bicycle racers varied as a function of the kind of competition they were involved in. In general, fastest speeds were obtained when cyclists were pitted against one another. The next best times were produced when the riders were being "placed" by a tandem cycle and worst performances occurred when a cyclist raced only against the clock. Triplett felt that it was the bodily presence of competitors that contributed to these differences. Triplett also had school-age children turn a fishing reel as fast as possible for a short period of time, and found that when the children worked in pairs their performance was superior to that when they worked alone. Informative as Triplett's (1898) study is, it cannot answer all questions that come to mind with regard to the influence of the company of a like other. Can it be that social situations invariably allow or cause us to do better than when we are alone? This seems unlikely given that very few of us have not experienced some sort of stage fright, sometime. Second, what is it about a social situation that causes behavioral disparities? Further, does it matter who the other is? Does it matter who the actor is? The point of this simulation will be to explore some of these possibilities. As the reader might imagine, a good bit of research on the topic has been dome since Triplett's time. The real-world researchers generally have examined the problem in the context of the requirements of some task. That is, social situations are held to be facilitating, inhibiting, or indifferent in effect in terms of criteria such as number of items completed, number or errors, time to completions, and others. Although there may be varying results form social conditions, the general discussion of this area is typically lumped under the rubric: social facilitation. Hence the title of this simulation. The student's progress through the simulation is conceived of as covering two levels. The primary level rests in the questions: What are the simple social effects? The secondary level focuses on the question: Why are there simple social effects?
The experimental situationThe subject, a college sophomore participating in the experiment to satisfy an introductory course requirement, will be asked to enter the experimental room and take a seat at a small table. There is a second chair on the opposite side of the table. A transparent partition extends across the table such that were there two persons writing at the table they could see each other's head, torso, and hands. They could also hear the sound the other made while writing and turning pages. In front of him, the subject finds pencils and a booklet, face down. After the subject is made conformable he is read the following instructions aloud:
In the booklet before you, you will find a number of multiplication problems. Your task is to find the answer to as many problems as you can in the next few minutes. Do not skip items. Work as carefully and rapidly as possible. Begin now. The experimenter then leaves the room (there is no so-called one-way mirror present) and the subject opens the booklet and begins the task it contains. When exactly twenty (20) minutes has elapsed since leaving, the experimenter re-enters the room, collects the materials, "debriefs" (explains the experiment), and thanks the subject for his or her participation. Select values for Stage 1 variables. Skip to stage 2. Return to the expersim index. Comments to: Gary.McClelland@Colorado.EDU  File: expersim/introsocial.html |