Chapter 1Theories and Methods in Social Psychology

David Rude, MA, CPCInstructor

1

2

Correlational and experimental research designs;

Research ethics, including informed consent, debriefing, and minimal risk;

Research bias (experimenter and subject); Social psychology theories, including social

learning, expectancy value, and social exchange.

Key Concepts

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to others.

people’s perceptions and attitudes, their interactions among others, the interpersonal level of analysis rather than the societal or individual level

The Social Psychological Approach

4

Social learning theory is a perspective that states that people learn within a social context.

It is facilitated through concepts such as modeling and observational learning.

People, especially children, learn from the environment and seek acceptance from society by learning through influential models

5

Bad words are generally common words which come to be associated with ideas, groups, and behaviors considered taboo or unclean at some time by someone.

Why Are Bad Words Bad?

6

Social Exchange Theory is a social psychological and sociological perspective that explains social change and stability as a process of negotiated exchanges between parties.

Social Exchange Theory posits that all human relationships are formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and the comparison of alternatives

Expectancy-Value Theory: contends that decisions are based on the value of outcomes and the probability each will occur.

7

Theories in Social Psychology

Motivational Cognitive Learning Sociocultural Evolutionary

8

Theoretical Perspectives in Social Psychology

Motivational Theories: focus on the individual’s own need or motives.

Motivation is the force that initiates, guides and maintains goal-oriented behaviors. It is what causes us to take action, whether to grab a snack to reduce hunger or enroll in college to earn a degree. The forces that lie beneath motivation can be biological, social, emotional or cognitive in nature.

9

Theories in Social Psychology

Cognitive Theories: emphasizes that a person’s behavior depends on the way he or she perceives the social situation.

Cognitive psychology focuses on the way humans process information, looking at how we treat information that comes in to the person, and how this treatment leads to responses.

10

Theories in Social Psychology

11

Learning in psychology is defined as change in behavior due to environmental influences.

It put an emphasis on the scientific study of observable behavior – i.e., what goes on in the mind is not important, only the resultant behavior. It has contributed to the scientific study of behavior (i.e. psychology as we study it) by advocating the experimental testing of hypotheses.

Learning perspective

Sociocultural perspective: emphasizes how behavior is influenced by cultural values, social norms, and social roles.

Cultures differ in the relative emphasis they give to individualism versus collectivism.

12

Theories in Social Psychology

Culture: shared beliefs, values, traditions, and behavior patterns of a group.◦ Culture affects all facets of life from our favorite

foods to our beliefs about masculinity and femininity.

Socialization: process of acquiring the rules, standards, and values of a group.

13

Theories in Social Psychology

Social Norms: rules and expectations about how group members should behave.

Social Role: set of social norms about how a person in a particular social position should behave.

14

Theories in Social Psychology

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

Evolved Psychological Mechanisms: human tendencies and preferences resulting from natural selection

15

Theories in Social Psychology

Scientific methodology minimizing biases is emphasized.

Four broad goals of research: Description Causal analysis

16

Methods in Social Psychology

Theory building Application

Ideal samples are representative of the population from which they come.

Random sampling is the best way to get a representative sample.

17

Selecting Research Participants

The Psychology Experiment

How is an experiment performed?◦Vary a condition you think affects behavior

◦Create two or more groups of subjects Alike in all ways except condition you are varying

◦Record whether varying the condition has any effect on behavior

◦Watch Stanford Prison Experiment clip

The Psychology Experiment

What are variables?◦Variable Any condition that can change Anything that might affect an experiment’s

outcome

Three types Independent - cause Dependent - effect Extraneous – interfere with results

Watch VIDEO

The Psychology Experiment

Experimental Group◦Subjects whose behavior is under investigation

◦Receive independent variable

Control Group: ◦Comparison group◦Do not receive independent variable

Nonexperimental Research Methods

Correlation - watch video◦Consistent, systematic relationship Between two or more events, measures, or variables

◦Relationship allows prediction◦Cannot infer causation Correlation ≠ causation

Nonexperimental Research Methods

◦Positive correlation Increases in one match increases the other

Decreases in one match decreases in the other

◦Negative correlation Increases in one match decreases in the other

Nonexperimental Research Methods

Advantages (+):◦Can observe relationships◦Allows for prediction

Disadvantages/Limitations (-):◦Correlation does NOT demonstrate causation

◦Correlation ≠ causation

24

Field research examines behavior in its natural habitat

Laboratory research is conducted in an artificial situation.

Field versus Laboratory Settings

Self-Report Observational Research Archival Research Internet Research

25

Methods of Data Collection

26

Bias in Research Two troublesome biases in social psychology research are:

Experimenter bias: unintentional acts by the researcher can bias results Subject bias/demand characteristics: aspects of research that make people aware that they are being studied can bias their behavior.

Replication: No study is ever perfect, results should be replicated; meaning the study must be repeated

27

Replication

The American Psychological Association, APA, provides rigorous ethical guidelines for research:

1. Informed consent2. Debriefing3. Minimal risk

28

Research Ethics

29

Activity 1: Unit 1 Assignment 2: Comparing and contrasting the

theoretical perspectives of social psychology. GRADED

Due at the beginning of class 2.

Homework