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Fake Pub Studies Drinking Habits

Posted by Soulskill on from the top-shelf-research dept.

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."

5 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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. ;-)

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  2. Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit by ArbitraryName · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  3. Psychology students as waiters by SpankiMonki · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  4. Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit by Jmc23 · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

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  5. Re:So a fake pub with drinks and a place to sit by mysidia · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.