Practical Write Up

Aim

(AO1)

To investigate the relationship between height and physical aggression scores

Procedure

(AO1)

• I used opportunity sampling to get a sample of 18, 16-18 year olds and got their informed consent

• They then completed the Buss Perry aggression questionnaire

• Next, they measured their height to the nearest centimetre

• I then found the relationship between the variables (height and aggression scores) by using the spearman’s rho test.

Findings

(AO1)

Weak positive correlation between height and physical aggression scores.

R value of 0.0057 which is below the critical value of the spearman’s rho test

Conclusion

(AO1)

This means there was an insignificant relationship between height and physical aggression scores so conclusions relating the two cannot be drawn.

Strength

(AO3)

I: Research was correlational

J: This allowed us to investigate the relationship between height and aggression scores without manipulating aggression in an experimental way that could be unethical

E: Therefore , using correlation allows us to identify the strength and direction of the relationship between height and aggression scores that otherwise cannot be investigated

Weakness

(AO3)

I: Other factors may have impacted aggression scores

J: Participants may have traumatic childhoods, or may be in particular groups e.g. gangs that affect their aggression scores

E: therefore, because we cannot measure these factors in this study, we cannot establish a cause and affect relationship between height and aggression scores directly

Improvements

1. Larger sample of 16-80 instead of 16-18 - more representative, generalisable

2. I would use other sources to gain data on aggression such as covertly observing behaviour alongside the Buss Perry aggression questionnaire increasing the accuracy of my results