129 lines
5.8 KiB
Markdown
129 lines
5.8 KiB
Markdown
# 1. Introduction & Research Methods
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> PSYG 2504 Social Psychology
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What is social psychology:
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The **scientific** study of the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people.
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## 1.1 Social Psychology focuses on the behavior of individuals
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Four core values to be scientific:
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- Accuracy – in a careful, precise and error-free manner
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- Objectivity – free from bias
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- Skepticism – accept findings as accurate after verifying repeatedly
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- Open-mindedness – to change the viewpoints when evidence shows the inaccuracy of the viewpoints
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## 1.2 Social Psychology seeks to understand the causes of social behavior and thought
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We are not isolated from social and cultural influences.
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To understand the factors that shape the actions and thoughts of individuals in the social contexts.
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E.g. love, violence, helping…
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## 1.3 Social Psychology seeks to understand the causes of social behavior and thought
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### 1.3.1 The actions and characteristics of other people
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**Our emotions, thoughts and behavior are affected by others.**
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When others are watching us (e.g. an attractive person looked at you at the canteen/ your lecturer stood next to you when you were having the examination)
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Others’ physical characteristics (e.g. tall/short; fat/slim; young/old; attractive/less attractive…)
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### 1.3.2 Cognitive processes
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**Engage in social cognition – to think about other persons.**
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*Infer* other people and then *affect* how we behave to them (i.e. your reactions in a situation will depend upon your memories of someone’s past behavior and your inferences about whether his/her explanation is really true)
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e.g. You are going to have lunch with your friend and she is late for an hour, how will you react when she says…
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She has totally forgotten? She had diarrhoea?
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### 1.3.3 Environmental variables
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**The physical environment influences our feelings, thoughts and behaviors.**
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E.g. Do people become more aggressive and irritable when the weather is hot? Does exposure to a pleasant smell in the air make people happier?
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### 1.3.4 Biological factors
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**Comes from the Evolutionary Psychology – we now possess a large number of evolved psychological mechanisms that help us to deal with important problems relating to survival.**
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E.g. attractiveness (women rate sense of humor very high on the list of desirable characteristics in potential romantic partners)
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= Signal high intelligence, more attractive, interest in forming new relationships
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## 1.4 Social Psychology aims to search for basic principles under the ever-changing social world
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- Develop basic principles that are accurate regardless of when and where they applied or tested.
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- Social psychologists also recognize that cultures differ greatly and the social work keeps on changing (e.g. independence or interdependence)
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- E.g. Would the determinants of attraction change after the advancement of technology, e.g. online dating? Social media?
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### 1.4.1 Research as a route to increase knowledge
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#### Systematic observation
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Mainly by *naturalistic observation*.
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The researcher just simply record what is happening in each context.
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He/she would make no attempt to change the behavior of the people being observed
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#### Survey Method
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- Advantages:
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- Easy to gather information
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- Can quickly get the opinions
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- Large sample size
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- Disadvantages:
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- Social desirability
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#### Correlation
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- Search for *relationships* between two events
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- Make *predictions*
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- Represents in a *number*, from $-1$ to $+1$
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- Positive correlation: when one variable increases, the other also increases
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- Negative correlation: when one variable increases, the other decreases
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- NOT implying causation
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#### Experimental Method
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One or more factors (IVs) are systematically changed to determine whether the changes will affect one or more factors (DVs)
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- Independent variables (IVs): the factor/variable that is changed/manipulated in an experiment
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- Dependent variables (DVs): the factor/variable that is measured in an experiment
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Researchers vary the independent variable (e.g., the number of bystanders people think are present) and observe what effect that has on the dependent variable (e.g., whether people help).
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- Random assignment – the participant must have an equal chance to be exposed to each level of the IVs
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- Internal validity – Making sure that nothing besides the independent variable can affect the dependent variable
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- External validity – The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
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### 1.4.2 Research vs. human rights
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#### Informed consent
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**The research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate**
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Informed consent should include:
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1. A brief description of the purpose and procedure of the research, including the expected duration of the study
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2. A statement of any risks or discomfort associated with participation
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3. A guarantee of anonymity and the confidentiality of records
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The identification of the researcher and of where to receive information about subjects’ rights or questions about the study
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4. A statement that participation is completely voluntary and can be terminated at any time without penalty
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5. A statement of alternative procedures that may be used
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6. A statement of any benefits or compensation provided to the subjects and the number of subjects involved
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7. An offer to provide a summary of findings
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#### Debriefing
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1. Provide necessary information (e.g. yourselves, nature, hypotheses) about the experiment.
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2. Clear any misunderstanding or misconceptions
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Explain why deception was used (if any)
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3. Minimize psychological harm or uncomfortable feelings aroused from the experiment
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4. Make sure they leave with positive feelings
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5. Appreciate and thank them for their contribution and help
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Let them know where to get further information
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