Fake Pub Studies Drinking Habits

sciencehabit writes "In a pub on the campus of London South Bank University, you may think you're drinking an ice cold brew, but don't be too sure. A fake pub with barstools, beer pumps, and all the trappings of a real one was built on the university for psychologists to better understand how and why we drink. Hidden cameras and a cheerful staff — who are undercover psychology students — help analyze behavior when customers, or test subjects, pay a visit."

Comments

So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Centurix]

Basically, a pub.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[wvmarle]

Also, psychologists will frown upon any research where the subjects do not know they are part of a research project.

Note, the subjects do not need to know (and shouldn't know) the actual research being done, just that they're part of a research project. Usually they're told that the researchers are testing one thing, while it's something entirely different that's really being tested.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[gstoddart]

Also, psychologists will frown upon any research where the subjects do not know they are part of a research project.

I'm guessing it depends on the nature of the interaction.

Some guys sitting in a pub knocking back a few can be a talkative bunch, and if you're not inducing them to do anything and serving responsibly ... then it's like Jane Goodall watching monkeys, isn't it?

Because I bet a good bar tender can tell you more about people than your average psychologist. ;-)

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[jxander]

"The difference between screwing around and science is writing it down" -Adam Savage

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[ArbitraryName]

Also, psychologists will frown upon any research where the subjects do not know they are part of a research project.

RTFA. The "pub" is in a room on the fourth floor of a university building. No one is being tricked into thinking they're in a real pub. It's just a set to help people relax and act more naturally. Every experiment performed must be approved by the university ethics committee and no one will be given enough alcohol to put them over the legal driving limit.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Centurix]

Designing software on the back of a coaster is Science! More drinks!

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[JanneM]

Note, the subjects do not need to know (and shouldn't know) the actual research being done, just that they're part of a research project. Usually they're told that the researchers are testing one thing, while it's something entirely different that's really being tested.

That generally needs specific approval, though, and normally always requirs that the subject gets briefed about the real intention of the research afterwards. Also, I'm not at all certain that serving alcohol does not constitute medicating the subjects; that would mean a still tougher IRB review and approval process.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Jmc23]

sigh, you article readers take all the fun out of the stupid comments!

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[mjwx]

Also, psychologists will frown upon any research where the subjects do not know they are part of a research project.

Note, the subjects do not need to know (and shouldn't know) the actual research being done, just that they're part of a research project. Usually they're told that the researchers are testing one thing, while it's something entirely different that's really being tested.

WANTED:

Subjects for experiment who cant tell the difference between market research and an organ harvesting operation.

Healthy type-o adults only.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[mysidia]

no one will be given enough alcohol to put them over the legal driving limit.

Real pubs aren't supposed to give anyone enough alcohol to get them drunk, either.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Mashdar]

I bet this started as a joke about grant proposals. I, for one, move to open a similar lab here.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Anonymous Coward]

ArbitraryName didn't say "enough alcohol to get them drunk", they said "enough alcohol to put them over the legal limit". For most people, the legal limit is well below the level of "drunk".

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[the_Bionic_lemming]

And no big screen for sports events because the nitwit in charge doesn't like sports?

So not a real pub, but a pub where the guy in charge thinks it should be like will actually test pub goers?

And this is science?

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[JWSmythe]

    I don't know what fine drinking establishments you've been to. The ones I've been to only cut you off when you can't pay, puke on the floor, or start a fight.

    For some of us, there are few visible signs of our intoxication. I'd probably love that real-fake pub. "Nope, not drunk yet, keep trying."

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[Bloke down the pub]

London South Bank University? I think that used to be the East Walford Arthur Fowler 6th Form College, so the Goodall comparison is more accurate than you might think.

Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit

[QRDeNameland]

The ones I've been to only cut you off when you can't pay, puke on the floor, or start a fight.

I'm envisioning a bartender saying: "Sorry sir, but you must either pay, puke on the floor, or start a fight...or else we can no longer serve you."

Fake-y Bubbles

[smittyoneeach]

Fake-y Bubbles
In your glass
Make ya wanna
Scrape your [sorry, couldn't think of a rhyme]
Burma Shave

Psychology students as waiters

[SpankiMonki]

Great! Now the students will have some training for the jobs they'll end up in anyway after graduating with a psych degree.

The Placebo Pub

[rts008]

It is a very good thing they are not charging for the drinks, I can't imagine the horror show resulting when the pub patrons find out they are buying watered down drinks.

Even after I RTFA, I still am not sure how they are concealing the info that there is little to no alcohol in the free drinks. I know if I was presented a free pub, I would wonder what the catch was, thus altering my behavior and skewing the data.

Maybe just my own suspicious and skeptical nature is the cause for my questioning this.
Or I missed that part of TFA. :-)

No, it's obviously fake.

[Any Web Loco]

The clue was "cheerful staff" :-/

What temperature?

[ebno-10db]

London South Bank University, you may think you're drinking an ice cold brew

The British don't drink their beer ice cold.

Re:What temperature?

[quenda]

The British don't drink their beer ice cold.

Not that old myth! What you and I call beer, the British call lager, and drink it chilled like everyone else.
But there is an extra option: if you go to a real English pub, and order a traditional ale, it is served at cellar temperature.
These days, lager is much more popular.

Re:Well...

[TWX]

We used to have problems with first-year psych students coming to Rocky Horror Picture Show to do some kind of paper or something. They were easy to spot, always showing up in September or October, generally completely oblivious to what goes on. We'd usually hold virgin auctions those nights, auctioning them (as RHPS virgins) to regulars to mess with 'em the whole night.

So "creepy and unethical" can go both ways (given the RHPS reference, pun-intended)