Abstract

The purpose and rationale for this experiment is to distinguish if factors such as race, prior offences, type of crime, level of seriousness of the crimes plays a role in a person’s judgment based on the type and severity of punishment. For this study participants were to state the type of punishment that the criminal were to be given for committing a certain crime. There were two independent variables used for the study, the independent variables were the race of the criminal was changed and if the criminal had prior offenses or were a first time offender. The hypothesis was partially supported based on the responses the participant reported. The only independent variable that tended to show some statistical significance was if the criminal had prior offenses or was a first time offender.

Recommended Citation

Vance, Amanda (2010) "What Fits the Crime: Does Factors Influence in a Person’s Judgment?," Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal: Vol. 1: Iss. 11, Article 8.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/psych_journals/vol1/iss11/8