Question

What is one similarity between the line experiment and the bridge experiment?

a) Both experiments demonstrate the effects of misattribution.
b) Both experiments demonstrate how testing the 'obvious' can yield surprising results.
c) Both experiments demonstrate the effects of peer pressure.
d) Both experiments demonstrate how testing is not needed if the source of behavior is obvious.

Answer 1

Both the line experiment and the bridge experiment showcase how even 'obvious' outcomes can be surprising when tested, illustrating the value of experiments in understanding human behavior and conformity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The similarity between the line experiment and what is referred to as the bridge experiment (perhaps an analogy to a real experiment or a hypothetical example to illustrate experimental principles in social psychology) lies in the demonstration of how testing assumptions, even when outcomes may seem obvious, can yield surprising results. Both experiments illustrate that the unexpected outcomes of testing can be informative. Solomon Asch's experiments on conformity showed that peer pressure could influence people to go against their own perceptions and conform to the group opinion, even when the correct answer was clear.

Similarly, in experiments that manipulate various conditions, such as observing behaviors while violating social norms or dropping sticks in a river at different points, researchers investigate the behavioral responses to different stimuli or situations. In both cases, these scientific experiments assess cause and effect and bolster our understanding of human behavior.