A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which research quality is considered a limitation of traditional helping behavior studies?

1. Subjective measurement of behavior

2. Limited ecological contexts

3. Low participant engagement

4. High operational costs

The correct answer is: Limited ecological contexts

The selection of limited ecological contexts as a limitation of traditional helping behavior studies is insightful because these studies often take place in controlled environments that do not accurately replicate real-world situations. This limitation can impact the generalizability of the findings, as behaviors observed in studies may not translate to more complex social contexts found in everyday life. In traditional helping behavior research, researchers frequently utilize structured environments, such as laboratory settings, to manipulate variables and observe responses. While this method provides control over extraneous variables, it can diminish the relevance of the findings when applied to the more dynamic and unpredictable nature of real-world scenarios. If the ecological validity is low, it raises concerns about how well the results reflect actual helping behaviors individuals may exhibit outside the confines of a study. By focusing on ecological contexts, researchers are encouraged to consider how social norms, environmental factors, and situational variables influence helping behaviors, leading to a richer understanding of human psychology in natural settings.