Researchers wanted to investigate whether adding a visual "nudging" stimulus—specifically, a green "smiling face" sticker on recycling bins—would increase correct recycling behavior in a busy shopping mall food court.
Over a two-week period, a total of 180 shoppers (90 males and 90 females) were observed discarding their waste at a designated recycling station. The station was set up under two conditions: either the recycling bins featured the green "smiling face" sticker (45 males and 45 females) or they featured a standard, neutral recycling symbol (45 males and 45 females).
The researchers recorded binary quantitative data: whether the shopper correctly sorted their recyclable items into the recycling bin (yes) or threw them into the general waste bin (no). They also noted the shopper's estimated age group and the specific bin condition.
Explain one weakness of using quantitative data in this recycling behavior study.
638 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Psychology Methods. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.