DR. YANGA’S COLLEGES, INC.

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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on

Individuals Performance

A Thesis paper presented to the

Faculty Members of College of Psychology

Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc.

By

Pionilla, Julianito C.

Roxas, Rocelle P.

Reyes, Prince John

Ortiz, Stella Carla Leoncio

Ariar, John Joseph T.

November 2023
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

CHAPTER I

RESEARCH INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study remove

The concept of social facilitation was first proposed by Norman Triplett in 1898.

He was studying the performance of cyclists and noticed that the ones who trained with

other cyclists performed better than when they tried to beat their personal record. His

study was considered as the first experiment in social psychology. But in 1924, Floyd

H. Allport was the first to formally use the term “social facilitation.” This is defined as

phenomena wherein people show increase in effort in the presence of others (Kessler &

Long-Crowell, 2022).

A theory in social psychology that supports the researchers’ study is Social

facilitation theory that Psychologist Floyd Allport labelled as. Social facilitation is an

improvement in the performance of a task in the presence of others (audience,

competitor, and co-actor) compared to their performance when alone (Mcleod, 2023).

How the presence of another person influences performance is the central question in

social facilitation theory. Is your performance usually better or worse when you do

something in front of an audience versus alone?

` Social facilitation theory was later conceptualized by Robert Zajonc as a social

drive and formulated drive theory. The drive theory hypothesizes that this is the case

because of task complexity. When someone is performing simple tasks that require little
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

effort, performance is improved with an audience. However, when people are

performing complex tasks, having others around is a hindrance, and performance

suffers (Aiken, 2023). Relating this theory to the researcher's study, the researcher will

investigate whether the task complexity and audience presence can actually affect

individuals’ performance.

The researchers used three (3) conditions for this study. Condition one is

performing while doing the test alone and lastly, condition two is performing while

being watched by an audience, and condition three is performing with a competitor

while being watched by an audience. Condition one is supported by the concept of

“solitude.” It means a state of peacefulness where you have the space to reflect, work

through things, and cultivate your overall wellness. According to Leamey (2023),

spending alone time can hone your concentration and help you focus on the tasks.

A study discovered by John Dashiell in 1935 explained condition two and called

it “audience effects.” It means the performance of an individual is better because they

are performing in front of an audience (Cuncic, MA, 2023). Condition 3, on the other

hand, is a type called “co-action effects.” This means a phenomenon whereby increased

task performance comes about by the mere presence of others doing the same task

(Mcleod, 2023). The relevance of this concept is to determine if the participants’

performance increases or decreases in condition one. If the performance increases they

are compatible with the concept of solitude, but if not they are more likely to be

inclined with social facilitation.

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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the presence of others can

have an impact on individuals’ performance. Additionally, the researchers will study if

having an audience with competition while performing a task can affect the individuals’
Good job in wirting the Background of the study.
performance.

Research Questions

1. Does the task complexity and audience presence can actually affect individuals’

performance?

2. Does having a competitor and audience at the same time affect the participants’

performance?

3. Which of the three conditions can have a significant effect on an individual's

performance?

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that the presence of others can influence an individual’s

performance. The researchers also assume that participants’ performances in the

audience condition with competitor are better than the performances in no audience

condition and audience condition of the experiment.

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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

CHAPTER II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Participants

The participants for this experiment would be from the Psychology program.

The two (2) students from the first-year psychology program will act as the subject for

this experiment. The basis for choosing the participants will come from their

willingness to participate.

Data Gathering Procedure

The data gathering procedure for this study was conducted using an

experimental research design. The experimental design had three conditions, the first

one with no audience condition, the second one is audience condition, and the third one

is audience condition with competition presented. Therefore, the experiment was a 3-

level design.

The researchers used materials such as word puzzles and timers. There were

three kinds of word puzzles specific to each of the three conditions of the experiment.

The participants, audience and experimenter also had timers, which they used to time

the rate of predominance under the three experimental conditions.

The researchers invited 2 participants from 1st year college into one of the

rooms in Dr. Yanga’s College, Inc. The study room offered the best place to conduct
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

the test because it is adequate, quiet, and spacious; therefore, there is less noise during

the experiment that might distract the participants’. Furthermore, the researchers

directed the participants to complete the word puzzles in three conditions.

The first is no audience, where participants take the test and set a timer for their

selves as to how long it will take them to solve the word puzzle. The second is an

audience condition, where participants perform the experiment in front of an audience

and the researchers do the timing. The third is the audience condition with competition,

where two participants perform the test at the same time knowing that they are actually

competing. The experimenter recorded performances of the participants in terms of

time.

After the experiment, participants who take the test will then interview by the

researchers and ask how hard they found the experiment, how they felt competitiveness,
Text

and how distracted they were when doing the experiment.

Variables

This study aims to measure the impact of the presence of others as the

independent variable, and the student's level of performance as the dependent variable.

The controlled variables of this study are the audience and test.
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

Data Collection

In this experiment, data is collected by timing how long it takes participants to

finish word puzzles under three distinct conditions.

Better to insert illustration per condition

1. No Audience Condition: Participants keep track of their time while they solve the

word puzzle.

2. Audience Condition: The experiment is carried out in front of an audience, and the

participants' performance is timed.

3. Audience Condition with Competition: Two individuals take the exam at the same

time, each aware that they are competing. The experimenter records their acts.

In addition, after the test, researchers conducted interviews with participants to

collect qualitative data on their subjective experiences, such as how difficult the

experiment was for them, their perception of competitiveness, and the level of

distraction they experienced during the task. This combination of quantitative (time

data) and qualitative (interview responds) methodologies allows for a thorough

knowledge of the participants' performance and experiences under various experimental

situations.

The tools used for data collection in this experiment include:

1. Word Puzzle: Each of the three experimental conditions has its own puzzle.
Insert picture of the puszzle
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

2. Timers: Timers are used by participants and the researcher to measure how long it

takes people to complete the word puzzles under the three experimental conditions.

3. Room at Dr. Yanga’s College, Inc.: The location was chosen for its appropriateness,

calm, and spaciousness in order to reduce external distractions during the experiment.

Ethical Considerations

The researchers will first ask permission from the participants before conducting

the experiment. The participants are free to opt in or out of the study at any point in

time. The participants will be informed about the purpose, guidelines, risks, and

procedures behind the study before they agree to join. The researchers will make sure

that all the personal information of the participants will be confidential. The researchers

will ensure that the participants are not physically or psychologically harmed while

conducting an experiment. To ensure this does not happen, researchers should have a

Professor available if potential harm may occur. Additionally, researchers must offer

counselling during or after the study to prevent long-lasting psychological harm.

.
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

CHAPTER III

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

Content of this chapter may differ depending on the Research Design.

Formatting for tables should be the same as the example below.

Table 1. Distribution of Respondents according to Gender

Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 25 50%

Female 25 50%

n=50 100%
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

CHAPTER IV

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Findings

Conclusions

Recommendations
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Social Facilitation: The Effects of Audience on Individuals Performance

REFERENCES

This part should be alphabetically arranged and should follow the APA format.