Researchers wanted to investigate whether subtle environmental cues—specifically, a poster depicting "watching eyes"—would influence littering behavior at a university cafeteria tray-return station.
Over the course of one week, 120 participants (60 males and 60 females) were observed at a tray-return station. The station either featured a poster of human eyes looking forward (30 males and 30 females) or a control poster showing a bouquet of flowers (30 males and 30 females).
The researchers recorded binary quantitative data: whether the participant cleared their tray properly (yes) or left trash on the table (no / littered). They also noted the participant's sex, estimated age bracket, and the specific condition (eyes poster vs. flowers poster).
Explain one weakness of using quantitative data in this cafeteria littering 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.