AP PSych

Section I: Descriptive Research Study Design
1. The subject being researched is the inferiority complex, specifically the Napoleon Complex, also known as Short Man Syndrome.
2. Freud’s Psychological approach of the subconscious would be the most appropriate approach to researching the mechanics behind the Napoleon Complex.
3. The Observational Method would be the most appropriate method for research. The Naturalistic Observation would be optimal for it allows the researcher to simply watch the mechanics behind the Napoleon Complex.
4. The research can be conducted by observing a class with multiple subjects of similar traits (race, age, origin), however height must differ. Observation of the behavioral patterns, social interactions, and general confidence of the subjects can be compared after grouping subjects by height (tall, average, short).
5. The shorter subjects crave attention, and will therefore act out for that attention. This behavior is “attention-getting.”
6. If shorter subjects prove to act overly outgoing, aggressive, or domineering in a social setting, they may prove to be overcompensating for their smaller stature. The idea can further be solidified if taller subjects lack much initiative to gain attention, for a taller height already draws attention which the taller subjects have grown to dislike.

Section II: Correlational Research Study Design

1. The two variables that are going to be studied are heights and outgoing behavior of the subjects.
2. The operational definition for “height” is “the subject’s height, measured in meters.” The operational definition of “Attention-getting behavior” is “Aggressive, loud, or obnoxious social interaction which attracts the attention of the subject’s peers.”
3. The data being collected does not very well facilitate a survey for gathering data. Outside of asking subjects what they think about others, or their own, behavior- however that has too much bias to be reliable.
4. The lower a subject’s height, the more obnoxious the subject’s behavior can be expected to be.
5. With height being on the X-axis, the maximum height of the subjects will be set at the origin, and the height units will decrease as the axis moves right. The y-axis will be the amount of obnoxious behavior the subjects perform, which will be recorded in perhaps outbursts, or minutes of interactions.

Section III: Experimental Research Study Design
1. If an individual is placed in a social setting, and realizes his height to be less than that of his peers, then that individual’s behavior will become considerably more aggressive than that of his peers.
2. The independent variable of the experiment is the height of the subjects. The dependent variable is the subject’s behavior- for it is dependent on the height.
3.