85-340

Research Methods in Social Psychology

Spring Semester 2003, Tu/Th 9:00-10:20, BH336B
Section A

Class Experiment, Spring 2003
SCRIPT

1. Introduce the experiment as, "two studies for your Research Methods class regarding student opinions on media coverage as well as reactions to current events in the news."
   
   
2. Hand out the article. Inform your participants that they will have to read the article, and then fill a short survey out regarding their opinions on the article. Give them the packet. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE GIVEN PACKETS RANDOMLY. The packet contains, in order:
   
   • Demographic Information
   • The emotion manipulation article:
     
     • Anger
     • Fear
     • Control
   • Article Rating scale
   • Affirmative Action questionnaire
   
   
3. Collect the material, and read the following to them:
   

   "Thank you for participating in the survey. We were looking for two effects: how your emotions concerning current events effect your views on current issues in the meda, and how having to express your views to a group with a known viewpoint affects the views you express. As such, there really is not a student group on campus collecting this sort of data that we know of, but we are interested in looking at your opinions regarding affirmative action, and how reactions to other events might play a role in said opinions. If you were asked to write your name on the survey, it will be removed from the demographics page. If you like, we can cross your name off or rip your name off of the page."

Click here for results discussed in class, 4/8/03