Aim-To see how
interrupting eye contact
affects conversation
Method-Pairs of participants were observed
having conversations and half of the
conversations had one participant wearing
dark classes so there was no eye contact and
the other half had no dark glasses
Results-When one of the
participants wore dark glasses,
there were more pauses and
interruptions than when dark
glasses were not worn
Conclusion-Eye contact is
important in ensuring the
smooth flow of conversation
Evaluation- High
ecological validity
Gestures-Lynn and Mynier
Aim-To see the effect of gestures used by
waiters and waitresses on the tipping
behaviour of customers
Method-While taking oders from customers, they were
told to either stand upright or squat down to the
customers level
Results-When they squatted down,
they received bigger tips compared
to standing upright
Conclusion-The gesture of squatting
will have an effect on tipping behaviour
Evaluation-low ecological validity, high
ecological validity, low demand
characteristics
Argyle and Dean
Aim-to see if sex
affects personal
space
Method-one at a time, participants
were asked to have a conversation with
another person who was actually a
confederate. sometimes the
confederate was of the same sex or the
opposite and the confederate sat at
difference distances and stared into the
participants eyes
Results-the participants
broke eye contact with the
opposite sex
Conclusion-We prefer to have a
greater amount of personal space
between ourselves and the opposite
sex during normal conversation
Evaluation-Ethical issues,
low demand characteristics,
high population validity
Conclusion-touch can have an
unconscious and positive effect
Results-When asked, the students who were
touched were more positive towards the
library and librarian. Most didn't realise they
had been touched though.
Method-male and female
students in a library were
handing books and for half of
them the librarian touched their
hand and for the other other
they didn't
Aim-to see the effect of
touch on people's
attitudes
Willis
aim:to see if age has an
effect on personal space
method: they
observed 800 people
in different social
situations and
recorded the
personal space they
left between
themselvees
Results: They found
people of similer ages
tended to be closer
together than people
who were younger or
older than them
Conclusion: Age difference has
an effect on personal space
Evaluatation: large sample variety of areas so we can
generalise results to be true. but has extranious vairibles