Bogus pipeline
Encyclopedia
The bogus pipeline is a technique used by social psychologists to reduce false answers when attempting to collect self-report data. For example, social desirability is a common reason for warped survey results.
The bogus pipeline was first used in the spring of 1967 by psychology professor Harold Sigall at the University of Rochester
. He wanted to know if prejudices of white people towards black people had really declined, as surveys reported, or if they were secretly still in force. Today, the bogus pipeline is still used when trying to measure an individual's affect or attitudes toward certain stimuli.
In this technique, the person whose attitude or emotion is being measured is told that they are being monitored by a machine or a polygraph
(lie detector), resulting in more truthful answers. The electrodes and wires that are connected to this individual are actually fake. However, participants end up telling their true feelings and attitudes because they believe they are being monitored and that the real answers will surface regardless of their response. In short, the bogus pipeline is a fake polygraph used to get participants to truthfully respond to emotional/affective questions (Kassin
, Fein
, and Markus
, 2008). The bogus pipeline can be used to reduce bias because most people do not want to be “second-guessed” by a machine; it is assumed that people would be motivated to choose the “correct” answer so as not to show an incongruence in attitude
(Jones and Sigall, 1971).
The bogus pipeline was first used in the spring of 1967 by psychology professor Harold Sigall at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He wanted to know if prejudices of white people towards black people had really declined, as surveys reported, or if they were secretly still in force. Today, the bogus pipeline is still used when trying to measure an individual's affect or attitudes toward certain stimuli.
In this technique, the person whose attitude or emotion is being measured is told that they are being monitored by a machine or a polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
(lie detector), resulting in more truthful answers. The electrodes and wires that are connected to this individual are actually fake. However, participants end up telling their true feelings and attitudes because they believe they are being monitored and that the real answers will surface regardless of their response. In short, the bogus pipeline is a fake polygraph used to get participants to truthfully respond to emotional/affective questions (Kassin
Saul Kassin
Saul Kassin is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.- Biography :Dr. Saul Kassin is an American psychologist. He has participated in contributing to many books which have helped to explain different aspects in the field of psychology. He...
, Fein
Steven Fein
Steven Fein is currently a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Steven has two daughters named Alina and Hannah....
, and Markus
Hazel Rose Markus
Hazel Markus is a prominent social psychologist. In 1975, she received her PhD from the University of Michigan, and later became one of the university’s faculty members. During her time at the University of Michigan, she was a research scientist at the Institute for Social Research...
, 2008). The bogus pipeline can be used to reduce bias because most people do not want to be “second-guessed” by a machine; it is assumed that people would be motivated to choose the “correct” answer so as not to show an incongruence in attitude
Attitude (psychology)
An attitude is a hypothetical construct that represents an individual's degree of like or dislike for something. Attitudes are generally positive or negative views of a person, place, thing, or event— this is often referred to as the attitude object...
(Jones and Sigall, 1971).