Article Critique
Begue, L., Busjman, B.J., Zerhouni, O., Subra, B. & Ourabah, M. (2012). Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’: People who think they are drunk also think they are attractive. British Journal of Psychology 104, 225–234.
Summary
The experimental study was carried out by university scholars who carried two kinds of research to evaluate the impact of beer consumption on the self-perceived attractiveness. Through the article, Begue, et al., (2012), concluded that that alcohol has a ‘beer google effect’ whereby when one is drunk, the person develops a feeling that he/ she is attractive. Thus concludes that alcohol consumption results in corruption of the mind and one does not need to drink for the mind to be corrupted by the ‘beer google effect.’ The independent variables were alcohol while the dependent variables were alcoholic individuals. However, the results of a subsequent produced contrary results.
The initial study was carried out on a group of 19 French patrons who rated themselves attractive. The study was carried out in person with the participants being volunteers. Thus, the higher the level of intoxication, the more one perceived to be more attractive. Considering the first study to comprise of the pilot study, the renowned scholars carried out another placebo effect to analyze the impact of alcohol. Half of the group were given some shots of vodka, among them, half were told that the truth that minty lemon liquid drink contained alcohol, the other half was told that the drink was non-alcoholic but tasted like alcohol. The remaining half drank an alcohol-free drink, which comprised of minty alcohol, but were told that it was alcoholic and had alcohol sprayed on the glass. In this group, half of the group was told that the drink was alcoholic while the other was told that the drink was not alcoholic. After some time, they were requested to record a fictitious advertisement for the beverage company, which has produced the drink. Later they were requested to rate their attractiveness in the film they had made. The research revealed that the individuals who had the perception of being drunk rated themselves more attractive than others irrespective of whether they had consumed alcohol or not. That revealed some interesting results that the alcohol content in the drinks does not affect a self-perception of being attractive. Rather, it is the self-perception of drinking that makes one develop an attitude towards being attractive. The self-perception of the individuals who had unknowingly drunk alcohol was not high.
In addition, 22 university students watched the video and did not find any correlation between attractiveness and being drunk. Thus, the self-perceived attractiveness was more of an illusionary. Thus, the researchers concluded the self-perceived appeal was a product of illicit believes about alcohol. Another research on 100 men revealed that the level of alcohol consumed adversely influenced the personality of the individuals.
The results of the studies were quite fascinating; however, they proved the hypothesis that is linked to the salient belief about self. Thus, the researcher embraced a quantitative research methodology and used statistical analysis in the data analysis. Through the initial study and the subsequent study, the scholars successfully addressed the limitation in study 1.
Critique
In regards to the research, it is apparent that the results are reliable. This is because the reliability of the research is proven after carrying out similar research using a different group and attaining the same results. In this case, similar results were attained during the first study and in the second research. The studies are valid because the tests carried out are appropriate. For ensuring the validity of the research, the objectives of the research are clearly defined. Thus, in this study, the scholars are evaluating the effectiveness of the self-perceived attractiveness and its relation to alcohol consumption. In both studies, the scholars did a noble task in the interpretation of the results. The limitations witnessed in the first study are addressed in the second study. Thus, the study 1 can be identified as the pilot study, while the study 2 can be identified as the actual study, which is carried out as a control experiment.
The ethical concerns were addressed since the sample population was aware that their data collected would be used for scientific research. In so doing, they signed the consent forms. More so, the scholars played a critical role in addressing the issues that were likely to influence the outcome. However, the research fails to address how the privacy and confidentiality of the participants in the study were guaranteed. The follow-up study will entail a similar approach; however, the participants of the study will be selected randomly.
The results of the study are strong and presented using the best approaches. Among the tests that could have been carried out is to evaluate the whether the level of self-perceived attractiveness is a subjective issue irrespective of the level of soberness or alcohol consumed. The fundamental notion of alcohol being attributed to psychological misinterpretation is disapproved. This is because the wrong judgment made is not based on the quantity of alcohol consumed, but it is an erroneous conception made. Thus, issues regarding self-perceived attractiveness and sexual arousal only exist on the ‘beer google.’ One of the main problems with research is that individuals who do not have understood the statistical concepts cannot understand the method of data analysis. More so, the scholars do not indicate the data collected or explain the process of analyzing the data but only give the results. Lastly, although the scholars cite the article appropriately, some of the references are outdated. For instance, some references are dated in 1965 (Bandura, 1965). The scholars should have used scholarly articles that are not more than five years old. This is because the old article may be providing obsolete information. Nonetheless, the method of study used to assess the subject of self-perceived attractiveness concerning alcohol consumption is appropriate.
Brief Summary
The experimental quantitative research methodology evaluates the relationship between alcohol consumption and level of self-perceived attractiveness. The results indicated that the perception about alcohol influences the self-perceived attractiveness. Thus, alcohol consumption is just but an excuse for premeditated judgment regarding sexual arousal and attractiveness. The scholars carry out two kinds of research to ensure the results were reliable. Appropriate research tools were used to guarantee the validity of the results. Despite the scholars not highlighting how the privacy of the participants is guaranteed and usage of obsolete references, the study is valuable. It provides insight on the level of judgment existing within the individuals concerning some issues. Thus, through the research, the misconception about alcohol influence on perception by humanity is proven.
References
- Bandura, A. (1965). Influence of models’ reinforcement contingencies on the acquisition of imitative responses. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 66, 575–582.
- Begue, L., Busjman, B.J., Zerhouni, O., Subra, B. & Ourabah, M. (2012). Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’: People who think they are drunk also think they are attractive. British Journal of Psychology 104, 225–234.