Questions: 1. What are the design elements (IV, DV) and operational definitions? 2. What are the potential confounds? 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the study design? 4. The message written on the back of the check concerned an upcoming special dinner at the restaurant. Is it possible that it was the content of the message rather than simply a personalized message from the server that accounts for the results? How might the
authors have evaluated this possibility? 5. Researchers used index cards to randomly assign the dining parties to the experimental and control conditions. What other strategies could they have used for random assignment in this field experiment? 6. Why did the researchers instruct the server to behave in the same way when delivering the check at the end of the meal? What possible threats to internal validity might be created if the server’s behavior varied when delivering the check?7. How might the following aspects of this study limit the study’s external validity?
A young female adult was the authors’ accomplice. The study was conducted at a private country club. The meal was buffet style.
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1. In this study, the design elements include the independent variable (IV), dependent variable (DV), and operational definitions.
The IV in this study is a personalized message written on the back of the check by the server. It is the variable that the researchers manipulate to see its effect on tipping behavior.
The DV in this study is the amount of the tip left by the dining party. It is the variable that the researchers measure to determine the impact of the IV on tipping behavior.
The operational definition is the specific way in which the IV and DV are defined and measured in this study. For example, the operational definition of the IV might be the presence or absence of a personalized message on the back of the check, and the operational definition of the DV might be the dollar amount of the tip left by the dining party.
2. Potential confounds are factors that could influence the results of the study, other than the IV. In this study, potential confounds could include factors such as the quality of service, the perceived value of the meal, or the mood of the dining party. These factors could potentially affect tipping behavior and confound the relationship between the IV and DV.
3. The strengths of this study design include its field experiment setting, which allows for more realistic and ecologically valid results compared to a laboratory setting. Additionally, the use of a control group and random assignment of dining parties to experimental and control conditions helps to establish causality between the IV and DV.
Weaknesses of the study design may include the potential for confounds, as mentioned earlier. Additionally, the study's external validity may be limited by the specific context in which it was conducted (a private country club) and the fact that the meal was buffet style, which may not generalize to other settings.
4. To evaluate the possibility that the content of the message rather than a personalized message from the server influenced the results, the authors could have conducted a follow-up study in which the content of the message was varied while keeping the personalization consistent. They could compare the tipping behavior in this condition to the original condition with personalized messages to see if the content itself had an impact.
5. In addition to using index cards, other strategies for random assignment in this field experiment could include using a random number generator or software to assign dining parties to the experimental and control conditions. The researchers could also consider using a stratified random assignment method, where they ensure that equal proportions of different types of customers (e.g., couples, families, groups) are assigned to each condition.
6. The researchers instructed the server to behave in the same way when delivering the check to ensure consistency across conditions. If the server's behavior varied, it could introduce potential threats to internal validity. For example, if the server seemed more friendly or attentive when delivering the check with a personalized message, that could influence the tipping behavior independently of the IV. By ensuring consistent behavior, the researchers can better isolate the effect of the IV on tipping behavior.
7. The aspects of this study that may limit its external validity include the use of a young female adult as the accomplice, conducting the study at a private country club, and having a buffet-style meal. These factors may not generalize to other settings or populations. For example, the tipping behavior of customers at a private country club may differ from that in other types of restaurants or establishments. Additionally, using a young female adult as the accomplice may introduce gender biases that could limit the generalizability of the findings. Finally, the buffet-style meal may not reflect the typical dining experience in other settings, where ordering from a menu or different service styles may be involved.