The Watching Eyes Effect Report

This psychology report investigates the 'watching eyes effect,' exploring how the mere presence of images of eyes influences human behavior, specifically focusing on cheating tendencies. The study employs an experimental design using a multiple-choice test administered under two conditions: one with a picture of flowers and another with a picture of eyes. Forty participants completed the test under both conditions. The results indicate a significant difference in the number of correct answers between the two conditions, with participants answering more questions correctly when presented with the flower image. This suggests that the visual cue of eyes increases prosocial behavior and reduces cheating. The report discusses the implications of these findings for crime prevention and the broader understanding of social influence and observational cues. The study draws upon existing literature on the 'watching eyes effect' and uses statistical analysis (SPSS) to support its conclusions.

Test Of Differences - The Watching Eyes Effect

Abstract
The research study is conducted in order to analyze the impact of watching eyes picture on the
behavior of an individual. The aim of the research is to identify the change in the behavior so
that the research can contribute towards the prevention of crime. The research is conducted by
using multiple choice question tests which are conducted in two situations, namely, in the
presence of flower picture and in the presence of eyes picture. After the test is conducted it is
checked by the participants itself and results are communicated to the examiner. From the data
analysis of results, it is shown that the number of correct answers in the presence of flower
picture is higher than the watching eyes picture.

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Aim of the Study..........................................................................................................................4
Problem Statement.......................................................................................................................4
Literature Review............................................................................................................................4
Hypothesis....................................................................................................................................5
Research Question........................................................................................................................5
Method.............................................................................................................................................6
Participants...................................................................................................................................6
Design..........................................................................................................................................6
Variables...................................................................................................................................6
Materials.......................................................................................................................................7
Procedure.....................................................................................................................................7
Results..............................................................................................................................................8
Discussion........................................................................................................................................8
References......................................................................................................................................10

Introduction
In this present paper, we will discuss the research proposal on the topic "The watching eyes
effect." The paper also discusses the methods used to conduct the study, results, and findings of
research and discussion. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of watching eyes
pictures on cheating. The research will contribute towards the use of eyes picture in preventing
crime.
Aim of the Study
The aim of the study is to find that the individual behaves more socially in desirable ways when
they are being watched by the pictures of eyes.
Problem Statement
In the required research report, the study is conducted to determine the effect of watched eyes of
an individual which can be applied to prevent the crime. The problem statement in the required
research report is:
“What is the effect of watched eyes pictures on cheating? “
Literature Review
According to the researchers, the presence of implicit observations for example pictures of eyes
shows cooperative behavior in the setting of fields and generosity in the games of dictators
(Nettle et al., 2013) Eyes play a significant role in day to day social interaction, and it is often
feared or revered. Research in the field of evolutionary psychology reflects that the perception of
gaze is a fundamental and primitive perceptual ability in primates as well as humans. According

to the (Vivanco et al., 2014) in the field of social psychology, it is found that the behavior of
people modified when they are closely identified. (Baillon et al., 2015) mentioned that the eyes
gaze could act as a motivator in order to become more charitable and attain a good reputation. In
the multiple laboratory and field studies, it is identified that the subtle clues of being watched can
help to promote the altruistic behavior in many contexts such as littering, giving of charity and
bicycle theft. The two studies are conducted by the (Panagopoulos et al., 2014) on the effect of
watching eyes and from the research it is found the people who are more concerned about their
reputation that shows more prosocial behavior when they are under the conditions of watching
eyes. According to the researchers, it is found that the donation of crowd funding websites
increases in high proportion because cues of being watched motivate and influence people to
donate in large amount. (Waizel et al., 2016) found that the picture of a human eye on the
payment instruction has increased the contribution to the honesty box.
Hypothesis
The current research is carried out to analyze the following hypothesis:
H1: There is a significant role of watched eyes pictures on changing the individual behavior into
more desirable ways.
Ho: There is no significant role of watched eyes pictures on changing the individual behavior
into more desirable ways.
Research Question
1. What are the watched eyes effect?
2. What is the impact of watched eyes pictures on cheating?
3. How watched eyes pictures change the behavior of an individual?

Method
In the current study, the qualitative method is used to conduct the study in which the participants
were asked to answer the multi-choice questions on the general knowledge. The SPSS tool is
used to analyze the data which is collected from the forty respondents by using the multiple
choice question tests.
Participants
The total number of participants for conducting the research study is forty, and they are required
to response to the multiple choices testing under the two conditions which helps to assess the
difference under the two different conditions.
Design
The multiple choice questions test is designed basically to allow cheating in the two conditions,
namely, presence of flower and in the presence of eyes. It is the experimental type of research
design which is a questionnaire survey. It is the types of cross-sectional study in which data is
collected from the respondents and analyzed by using SPSS data analysis tool.
Variables
Variably identifies in the research are, independent variable (Watched Eyes pictures) and
depended on variable (change in individual behavior). The variables are selected by its
importance, for example, the watched eyes pictures cannot be modified or changed whereas the
individual behavior is upon the watched eyes pictures.

Materials
The information is collected from the participants which include age, gender, ethnicity,
recruitment, order, flowers and eyes. The age group of the participants is under 18-30 years. The
gender can be male or female. The ethnicity can be black and minority ethnic and white. The
source of recruitment is research participation scheme. The orders can be AB which means test A
which is followed by B or BA which means Test B which is followed by Test A. The flowers
include a total number of correct responses in the flower condition. The Eyes includes a total
number of correct responses in the presence of eyes condition.
Procedure
In the current research study, the participants are asked to complete the multiple choice questions
which are based on the general knowledge, and it is conducted on the basis of two conditions,
namely flower condition, and eyes condition. In the flower condition participants are sited in
front of the picture of flowers and in the eyes condition participants are sited in front of the
picture of eyes. The test is designed in such a manner which allows the participants to cheat.
Two multiple choice question sets are designed in which fifty questions are created under each
set so that Test A can be compared with test B. The tests are based on the Life in the UK test.
There were no repeated questions in the test, and the questions are related to the cultures, people,
and events in the United Kingdom. Twenty students are randomly assigned test A followed by
the test B and other twenty people are assigned test B which is followed by the test A. Then the
results are compared with both the conditions.
The participants have firstly completed the flower condition in which the participants are set in a
research cubicle and complete one of the test. ON the wall which is facing by the participant that

was a banner of 150X35mm with the picture of flowers. The participants were rewarded £0.05
for every correct answer, and after fifteen minutes the answer key is provided to the participant
to check the correct response and report the results to the experimenter. The test was not checked
by the experimenter. Then similarly the same situation is conducted for the second situation in
which the picture is of eyes. The condition is identical to the flower condition. Finally, the
participants were debriefed, and the experimental team thanks the participants. The forty-five
minutes of RPS is given to the respondents and payment is given to the participants for the
correct responses.
Results
From the above data analysis, it is found that the correct response to the condition of flowers is
higher than in the condition of eyes. The total correct answers of the forty respondents are 1410
in the condition of flower, and the total correct answers are 1292 in the condition of eyes. It
shows the total number of correct responses that the respondents cheat in front of the flower
picture are higher than in front of the picture of eyes.
Discussion
From the above research study and data analysis, it can be concluded that the behavior of
individuals is affected by the presence of eyes pictures. The eyes picture from the previous study
shows that it acts as a motivator which helps to influence the behavior. The correct response in
front of the picture of the flower is higher than the response in front of the picture of eyes. It can
be applicable to prevent the crimes by using the pictures of eyes which influence the behavior of
individual into more social desirable. The test is designed in such as manner which allows

cheating so that the impact of behavior in front of different pictures can be predicted. Two
different sets of the test are used to conduct the study which helps to shows that the cues of being
watched the impact of the individual behavior in a more social context.

References
Baillon, A., Selim, A., & Van Dolder, D. (2013). On the social nature of eyes: The effect of
social cues in interaction and individual choice tasks. Evolution and Human Behavior, 34(2),
146-154.
Waizel, M., Rickmann, A., Blanke, B. R., Wolf, K., Kazerounian, S., & Szurman, P. (2016).
Response to bevacizumab after treatment with aflibercept in eyes with neovascular
AMD. European journal of ophthalmology, 0-0.
Patriat, R., Molloy, E. K., Meier, T. B., Kirk, G. R., Nair, V. A., Meyerand, M. E., ... & Birn, R.
M. (2013). The effect of resting condition on resting-state fMRI reliability and consistency: a
comparison between resting with eyes open, closed, and fixated. Neuroimage, 78, 463-473.
Vivanco, D. F., & van der Voet, E. (2014). The rebound effect through industrial ecology’s eyes:
a review of LCA-based studies. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 19(12),
1933-1947.
Panagopoulos, C. (2014). Watchful eyes: implicit observability cues and voting. Evolution and
Human Behavior, 35(4), 279-284.
Nettle, D., Harper, Z., Kidson, A., Stone, R., Penton-Voak, I. S., & Bateson, M. (2013). The
watching eyes effect in the Dictator Game: it's not how much you give, it's being seen to give
something. Evolution and Human Behavior, 34(1), 35-40.