EXPERIMENTATION CRITIQUE

Experimentation Critique

Experimentation Critique

Experimentation Critique

Threatening Emails Impacting Blood Pressure Electronic communication has rapidly become a societal norm with the changing of times and advancement of technology. The ability to quickly and efficiently compose and send emails consisting of thoughts, ideas, or concerns clouding one's head at any given time is priceless given that it coincides with today's fast-paced societal culture. Because of its convenience and expediency, many individuals choose to use this ideal form of communication to correspond corrective actions and 'exchange blows' with friends or loved ones. Similarly, the use of electronic communication has also become the chosen form of contact within the workplace. Unfortunately, not all electronic communication is of a positive nature.

Questions of appropriateness regarding the selection of electronic communication (e-mail) for all means of interaction are constantly raised and similarly the effectiveness of disparaging e-mails has remained in suspect (David, 2009). The experiment in focus within this paper was completed as a means of measuring the level of blood pressure changes among receivers when in receipt of e-mails from interdepartmental staffers or senior level staff members. Two independent variables presented themselves through this experiment as well as an equal number of dependent variables. Along with the independent and dependent variables, the type of sampling employed, the reliability, and validity of the study will be examined within this essay.

Independent Variable(s) utilised in the Study

The independent variable is “the variable manipulated by the researcher, thereby causing an effect or change on the dependent variable” (Cooper & Schindler, 2006, p. 711). Within this experiment, two independent variables exist. The first variable is the individual seniority of the e-mail sender (Taylor, Fieldman, & Lahlou, 2005). E-mails rooting from a senior level faculty member were administered to the first half of the participants while the other half received messages from a coworker or member of the staff holding a position within the same level as each participant. The second independent variable monitored the varying impacts in regard to the correlation involving the sender and receiver. Amid observation, onlookers studied the impact on participant's individual blood pressure when opening emails from equal-level staffers as opposed to those sent by senior level staff.

Dependent Variable(s) Used in the Study

The dependent variable is “the variable measured, predicted, or otherwise monitored by the researcher; expected to be affected by a manipulation of the independent variable” (Cooper & Schindler, 2006, p. 708). The two dependent variables presented in this experiment were the average “systolic and diastolic blood pressure during performance of each of the tasks” (Taylor, Fieldman, & Lahlou, 2005, para. 15). Each participant was coupled with an electronic monitor that continuously checked each individual's blood pressure as researchers asked each individual to perform specific tasks. Conductors of this experiment used the results of each participant's systolic and diastolic blood pressure to determine if individuals are affected adversely when receiving e-mails from senders holding a non-threatening position versus those possessing a position of power.

Sampling Used to accumulate Subjects

Random sampling was the method in this ...