ANCHORING BIAS

To carry out this the task is pretty simple. There are two handouts attached below. Go around the
school and find two volunteers for your study. In the school, go to the library, the cafeteria or
find teachers around the building.
Tell the participant that they are doing a study on obesity for psychology class. Then ask them if
they are willing to fill in a quick survey. The survey looks like this:
An average woman needs to eat about 2000 calories per day to maintain, and 1500 calories to
lose one pound of weight per week. An average man needs 2500 calories to maintain, and 2000
to lose one pound of weight per week.
The above meal is a KFC special menu - a can of Pepsi, a Zinger sandwich and some fried
potatoes. A Zinger sandwich is a fried chicken filet with mayonnaise and lettuce on a sesame seed
bun.
It is estimated that the Zinger menu has about 500 calories.
Do you think that this estimate is too high or too low?
What do you think is the actual caloric value of a Zinger menu?
There are two versions of this handout. One says 500 calories; the other says 1500 calories. The
actual number of calories is 900.
Compile your data on a Google spreadsheet. The data is divided into groups of three to carry out
the Mann Whitney test to determine if your results are significant.
A psychological study of obesity

An average woman needs to eat about 2000 calories per day to maintain, and 1500 calories to
lose one pound of weight per week. An average man needs 2500 calories to maintain, and 2000
to lose one pound of weight per week.
The above meal is a KFC special menu - a can of Pepsi, a Zinger sandwich and some fries. A
Zinger sandwich is a fried chicken filet with mayonnaise and lettuce on a sesame seed bun.
It is estimated that the Zinger menu has about 500 calories.
1. Do you think that this estimate is too high or too low?
Too low
Too low

2. What do you think is the actual caloric value of a Zinger menu?

1500
1000
A psychological study of obesity

An average woman needs to eat about 2000 calories per day to maintain, and 1500 calories to
lose one pound of weight per week. An average man needs 2500 calories to maintain, and 2000
to lose one pound of weight per week.
The above meal is a KFC special menu - a can of Pepsi, a Zinger sandwich and some fries. A
Zinger sandwich is a fried chicken filet with mayonnaise and lettuce on a sesame seed bun.
It is estimated that the Zinger menu has about 1500 calories.
1. Do you think that this estimate is too high or too low?
Too high
Too high

2. What do you think is the actual caloric value of a Zinger menu?

1000
1000
Practicing the IA

The directions below are for a practice IA. You should base your report on our experiment
that wanted to see how an anchor would affect a participant’s estimate of the number of calories
in a KFC Zinger menu. When writing up the report, please be sure to use the headings that are
indicated below.

Introduction (6 marks)
In the introduction, you need to include each of the following:
• Explain the theory on which our study was based (Dual Processing Model and anchoring bias).
Be sure to explicitly link the theory to our procedure.
• Explain the significance of this study – in other words, why is this study important?
• Identify the IV and the DV in the experiment.
• End your introduction with a statement of the null and research hypotheses.

Exploration (6 marks)
In the exploration, you need to explain each of the following: The design (independent samples
or repeated measures). The sample - how was it chosen? What are some key characteristics of the
sample? The procedure

Analysis (8 marks)
Your raw data and calculations need to be at the end of the report in an appendix. Describe your
data. Calculate the mean, median and standard deviation. Explain what these statistics tell us.
Carry out the appropriate inferential statistic. What does it tell us? Draw a graph that is relevant
to our hypothesis.

Evaluation (10 marks)

Evaluate the design that was used (one strength and one limitation). Evaluate the sample (one
strength and one limitation). Evaluate the procedure (one strength and one limitation). What are
two things that you might do differently if you were to redo this experiment. Be able to explain
why you would make these changes.

Total points: 30
Mark bands
7: 27 - 30
6: 24 - 25
5: 20 - 23
4: 16 - 19
3: 10 – 15
2: 5 - 9
1: 0 – 4
 Anchoring bias rubric
Introduction (6 marks)
Marks Level descriptor
0 • Does not meet the standard below.
1-2 • The aim of the investigation is stated but its relevance is not identified.
• The theory or model upon which the investigation is based is identified but the description is
incomplete or contains errors.
• Null and/or research hypotheses are stated, but do not correctly state the independent and/or
dependent variables.
3-4 • The aim of the investigation is stated and its relevance is identified but not explained.
• The theory or model upon which the investigation is based is described but the link to the
investigation is not explained.
• The independent and dependent variables are correctly stated in the null and/or research hypotheses,
but not operationalized.
5-6 • The aim of the investigation is stated and its relevance is explained.
• The theory or model upon which the investigation is based is described and the link to the
investigation is explained.
• The independent and dependent variables are stated and operationalized in the null and research
hypotheses.

Exploration (6 marks)
Marks Level Descriptor
0 • Does not meet the standard below.
1-2 • The research design is identified.
• The sampling technique is identified.
• Minimal characteristics of the participants are described.
• The procedure is described, but lacking detail.
3-4 • The research design and sampling technique are described.
• Characteristics of the participants are described.
• The procedure is able to be replicated based on the description.
5-6 • The research design and sampling technique are explained.
• The sampling technique is explained.
• The procedure is well explained and controls are identified.

Analysis (8 marks)
Marks Level descriptor
0 • Does not meet the standard below.
1-3 • Only descriptive or inferential statistics are applied.
• A correct graphing technique is chosen but does not address the hypothesis.
• There is no clear statement of the findings.
4-6 • Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics are applied but with errors.
• The graph addresses the hypothesis but contains errors.
• The statistical findings are stated but either not explained with regard to the data or not linked to
the hypothesis.
7-8 • Descriptive and inferential statistics are appropriately and accurately applied and discussed.
• The graph is correctly presented and addresses the hypothesis.
• The statistical findings are explained with regard to the data and linked to the hypothesis.
Evaluation (10 marks)
Marks Level Descriptor
0 • Does not meet the standard below.
1-3 • Strengths and limitations of the design, sample and/or procedure are stated but are not directly
relevant to the hypothesis.
• One or more modifications are stated.
4-6 • Strengths and limitations of the design, sample and procedure are stated and relevant, but not
explained.
• Modifications are explained, but not explicitly linked to the limitations of the investigation.
7-10 • Strengths and limitations of the design, sample and procedure are stated, relevant and explained.
• Modifications are explained and explicitly linked to the limitations of the investigation.

Total points: 30
Mark bands
7: 27 - 30
6: 24 - 25
5: 20 - 23
4: 16 - 19
3: 10 - 15
2: 5 - 9
1: 0 - 4