I share Ken's concern; a number of my colleagues name their labs, but I don't want my participants showing up for studies in a room labeled the "Social Influence Lab." I don't put up posters of my research in the hallway for similar reasons. Although maybe my data would look better if I could get some demand characteristics working in my favor.
Martin Bourgeois Professor and Chair Social and Behavioral Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL 33931 ************** Confidentiality Statement ******************** Florida has a very broad public records law. As a result, any written communication created or received by Florida Gulf Coast University employees is subject to disclosure to the public and the media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. ________________________________________ From: Brandon, Paul K [[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 10:35 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] naming labs I always favored 'Das Rathaus'. On Oct 4, 2011, at 8:56 PM, Ken Steele wrote: > > Hi Annette: > > As far as I can figure, people just pick a name that sounds good and cool and > catchy and go with with it. > > Personally, I have found many lab names to be pretentious. (It's a room with > 4 freaking computers!) and the title is laden with demand characteristics. > What is one to think about people who show up to studies in lab names like > "Anxiety Prevention Lab" or "Fat Fear Lab" or "Relationship Anxiety Lab." > (Names slightly changed to hide actual lab name.) > > I ran an online participant recruitment program that picked intro psych > students at random and offered them to particpate in studies labeled "#1, #2, > #3..." > > Faculty hated the program. Students would sign up for the program but > "standard effects" would not be found. Hmmm. > > Ken > > PS - I have worked in some "name labs" and their history was such that I felt > honored to have walked in the building but they are very few and far. > > Typically, there was no "name" on the famous-name lab door. You were either > in the know or you didn't know. But the effects happened without the name on > the lab ddor. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13390.2bbc1cc8fd0e5f9e0b91f01828c87814&n=T&l=tips&o=13147 or send a blank email to leave-13147-13390.2bbc1cc8fd0e5f9e0b91f01828c87...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=13148 or send a blank email to leave-13148-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
