NVC

NVC

1. Gesture

   • Evaluation
     • Positives
       • + The study shows how gestures can be universal while others are culturally diverse. + High ecological validity because observations were made while they carried out their normal lifestyles.
     • Negatives
       • - They might have interpreted their gestures prove their hypothesis
   • Study
     • Saitz et al. (1972) Aim: To compare the use of gestures in the US, Columbia and Africa. Method: Observations were made of gestures used in these cultures. Results: 65% of gestures used in America and 73% of gestures used in Columbia were also used in 4 African countries. These gestures included: pointing, shrugging and nodding. Conclusion: Therefore, many gestures are universal.

2. Touch

   • Study
     • Fisher, Rytting and Heslin (1976) Aim: To see the effect of touch on people's attitudes. Method: Female students in a library were handed books by a librarian who was a confederate of the researcher. Half of the students were touched on the hand by the librarian while the others weren't touched at all. Results: When questioned later, students who were touched had a much more positive attitude towards the library and the librarian than those who weren't touched. The students were unaware they had been touched. Conclusion: Touch can be unconscious and can have a positive effect on one's positive attitude.
   • Evaluation
     • Positives
       • + It only used females so that the touch wasn't misinterpreted by the male as sexual inuendo.
     • Negatives
       • - The study was gender biased because it only used females so it could not be generalised to male, thus making it unreliable.

3. Tone Of Voice

   • Study
     • Argyle, Alkema, and Gilmore (1971) Aim: To see if tone of voice has an effect when interpreting a verbal message. Method: In artificial condtions listened to either friendly or hostile messages spoken in either friendly or hostile tone of voices. Therefore, some participants heard a hostile message spoken in a friendly tone of voice and others heard a friendly message spoken in a friendly tone of voice. Results: When participants were asked to interpret the messages, it was found that the tone of voice had about 5 times the effect of the verbal message itself. Conclusion: Tone of voice is extremely important in how people interpret verbal messages.
   • Evaluation
     • Postitves
       • + It is high in control as its low in ecological validity.
     • Negatives
       • - Low in ecological validity meaning that it was done in a lab and can hence not be related to real life.