Sample Procedures

Procedures for an Electronic Survey Study

  1. Send announcement and electronic link to listserv.
  2. Interested Ss take anonymous survey on the internet.
  3. Collect data electronically.

Procedures for a Memory Study

  1. Aim: To determine if memory is better for gossip information compared to non-gossip information.
  2. Procedures:
  3. Recruit Ss by PSPM.
  4. Ss arrive at lab to read and sign consent form.
  5. Randomly assign Ss to gossip group.
  6. Have Ss read or rank information on computer.
  7. Give arithmetic distracter task.
  8. Give surprise free recall test.

Procedures for an Emotion Study

  1. Aim: To investigate the role of individual differences in emotion in the social cognition of aggressive children when they experience a frustrating situation.
  2. Procedures:
  3. Screen 600 8-12 year-olds with classroom sociometrics.
  4. 3 experimental sessions in schools for the 120 most aggressive children:
    1. Two surveys (30 minutes)
    2. Peabody Vocabulary test and a test of understanding of feelings in other children (40 minutes)
    3. a: mood assessment, b: measure response to 4 stories about other children in social situations, c: timed frustrating puzzle task, d: mood assessment, e: measure response to 4 more stories.

Procedures for a Deception and Mood Study

  1. Ss (N = 2 - 4) arrive at lab
  2. Sign consent forms
  3. Read cover story (Appendix D, Part 1, p. 18)
  4. Random assignment to affiliation-type or achievement-type relationship
  5. “Random drawing” for moderator/interviewer (confederate always assigned as moderator/interviewer)
  6. Complete Trait Meta-Mood Scale and Emotional Intensity Scale
  7. Structured videotaped interview
  8. Rejection feedback to Ss
  9. Affect measures
  10. Implement regulation strategies (Exp. 1: reappraisal; Exp. 2: suppression)
  11. Second structured videotaped interview
  12. Affect measures
  13. Debriefing
  14. Judges rate taped interviews

Procedures for an Exercise Science Study with DXA and Treadmill

  1. Aim: To define the gait characteristics that are associated with observed higher metabolic costs during walking for overweight compared to normal weight individuals.
  2. Procedures:
  3. Recruit Ss by email.
  4. Phone screening for exclusion.
  5. Lab screening for exclusion.
  6. Two physical activity surveys.
  7. Walk across force plate 15 times.
  8. Treadmill with O2 uptake:
    • At Ss ‘normal’ walking pace (determined by a pre-test)
    • 25% higher than Ss ‘normal’ pace
    • 25% lower than Ss ‘normal’ pace
  9. DXA.