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Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Theories and Methods in Social Psychology. The Social Psychological Approach. Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to others. The Social Psychological Approach.

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Chapter 1

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  1. Chapter 1 Theories and Methods in Social Psychology

  2. The Social Psychological Approach • Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to others

  3. The Social Psychological Approach • focuses on the interpersonal (rather than the societal or individual) level of analysis

  4. Historical Roots of Social Psychology • Three major perspectives have influenced social psychology: • Psychoanalytic Theory • Behaviorism • Gestalt Psychology

  5. Theories in Social Psychology • Motivational Theories • Learning Theories • Cognitive Theories • Decision-Making Theories • Interdependence Theories

  6. Sociocultural Theories • A sociocultural perspective emphasizes how behavior is influenced by cultural values, social norms, and social roles.

  7. Sociocultural Theories • Cultures differ in the relative emphasis they give to individualism versus collectivism.

  8. Evolutionary Social Psychology • applies the principles of evolution and natural selection to the understanding of human behavior and social life.

  9. Social Psychological Theories Today • combines and integrates different theoretical traditions. • “middle-range theories,” or models to explain specific aspects of human behavior, are emphasized.

  10. Research Methods • scientific methodology and minimizing bias are emphasized.

  11. Four Goals of Research • Description • Causal Analysis • Theory Building • Application

  12. Selecting Research Participants • Ideal samples are representative of the population from which they come. • Random sampling is the best way to get a representative sample.

  13. Biases in Research Samples • College students are over-represented due to convenience. • Males are over-represented in older research. • Ethnic minority groups are under-represented.

  14. Correlational versus Experimental Designs • There are two basic research designs: correlational and experimental.

  15. Correlational Research • Observes the relationship between two or more variables

  16. Advantages of Correlational Designs • Enable researchers to study problems in which intervention is impossible or unethical • Efficient: allow researchers to collect more information and test more relationships

  17. Disadvantages of Correlational Designs • Do not provide clear-cut evidence of cause-and-effect • reverse-causality problem • third-variable problem

  18. Experimental Research • The researcher creates two or more conditions that differ from each other in clearly specified ways. • Individuals are randomly assigned to conditions. • Their reactions are measured.

  19. Variables in Experiments • The independent variable is the presumed cause and is manipulated by the researcher.

  20. Variables in Experiments • The dependent variable is the effect that is measured.

  21. Variables in Experiments • The operational definition of a variable is the specific procedure or operations used to manipulate or measure it.

  22. Random Assignment • Random assignment is crucial because it allows one to infer that differences between groups are due solely to the experimental conditions.

  23. Table 1-1

  24. Field versus Laboratory Settings • Field research examines behavior in its natural habitat • Laboratory research is done in an artificial situation.

  25. Advantages of Laboratory Research • maximizes internal validity • more convenient and less costly than field research

  26. Advantages of Field Research • Maximizes external validity • Allows researchers to study powerful situations that cannot be studied in the lab. • Minimizes suspicion by participants

  27. Table 1-2

  28. Methods of Data Collection • Self-Report • Observational Research • Archival Research

  29. Bias in Research • Two kinds of bias are troublesome in social psychology: experimenter bias and subject bias

  30. Experimenter Bias • Subtle cues from the researchers may influence participants’ behavior. • Solutions • “blind” research assistants • Standardize research procedures

  31. Subject Bias • The mere fact of knowing that one is being studied may alter one’s behavior. • Solutions • unobtrusive measures • don’t tell participants the goals or hypotheses

  32. Replication • No one study is ever perfect, so results should be replicated • Conceptual replications should be conducted in addition to exact replications.

  33. Research Ethics • American Psychological Association ethical guidelines for research • Institutional Review Boards.

  34. Three Important Ethical Principles • Informed Consent • Debriefing • Minimal Risk

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