Tuesday August 27:-Social PsychologyoSocial psychology(ψ): the scientific study of the nature & causes of individual behavior & cognition (β) in social situationsoThe power of the situation-Situational behavior is different from you baseline personality. -Situational cognition-Social (ψ) & sociologyoDiffer: -Sociology: the observation of a groupFocus on society & social institutionsBroad social aspects-Social psychology (ψ): the observation of an individual & group dynamicsSocial & personality [JPSP -book]-Early personality --> internal dynamics & individual differences-What motivates people in terms of different personality traits-Introversion-Extroversion-Narcissism-Social--> focus on social situations that affect common humanityThursday August 29:-All sciences grew out of philosophy, including psychology-Philosophical issues in social psychologyoNature vs nurture-What degree genetics heredity-What degree is environment cultureoNature-Heredity & genetic traits determine a person's cognitionoNurture-Environment determines behavior-Historically psychology has been more on the nurture side oPresent day, culmination of nature & nurture, not versus-Free will vs determinism oWhat degree are you in control of your life or others are in control of your lifeoFree will: the individual alone has control over personal behavior-You make the choice you want to make in life-LibertariansHard to defend philosophically oDeterminism: belief that all events are shaped & governed by forces beyond control of individual-Situation where you have no control-"it happened for a reason" "cosmic reason"-Sometimes helps to belief Chapter 2-Research Methodology in social psychologyoResearch foundation for social psych experiments-Experimental methodoObjective & systematic method of research in any scientific analysis oGoals of research: determine if a variable influences some form of behavior-Behavior that takes place around other people (groups, random)Two basic steps:-Vary the quantity or quality of the variable-Amount-Intensity-Mix it up for comparison purposes -See if the variables had an impact on behavior-Independent variable (IV): factor or variable being studied (manipulated by experimenter)-Dependent variable (DV): behavior studied --> involves some measure Some sort of attempt of measurement of change-Ex: being touched by a stranger (waitperson) induces (+) reactions in a restaurant customer-IV= amount of touching -Avoid touching customer-Briefly touch customer (0.5 sec)-Prolonged touching of customer (1.0 sec)-DV: tip, survey-Sample size (n):The larger the sample size (n) helps back the validity of the data-Replication: doing the experiment multiple times to solidify data-Different data: failure to replicate-More diverse the sample the better information data will yield-Correlational method: Goal: to see if two or more variables are related by careful observation of both via careful observation of both-Linked or correlated to another variable -Correlation does not imply causation-Laboratory vs field experimentation:Laboratory experiments-A high percentage of studies -Advantages:-Control Independent Variable-Random assignment of participants-Any position of control groups-Simplify the world--> control behavior-Disadvantages:-Mundane realism: degree to which the experiment resembles real-world events [your life]-Big issue in social psychology-Low in mundane realism = something totality unlike life-External validity: degree of "generalizability" of the findings to other populations or groups-Certain sample of people: can't take data and apply it to other individuals-High external validity: large, diverse sample size-most people we study take general psychological average sophomore, white, upper middle class, 19 years old [study of college sophomore] <--the answer-Low in mundane realism and low in external validity-Demand characteristics:- cues that reveal the hypothesis under study-If subjects figure out what the study is about, it may influence the subject to act/respond in a certain social demand-Experimenter expectancies-Evaluation Apprehension: -Participants concern about being observed during study-Being watched, studied observed-Field Experiments-Gives opportunity to study people in a natural context-Study people in a natural environment opposed to artificial world-Two types:-Overt: participants know they are being observed-Covert: participants are unaware of being observed-Advantages : -High external validity--> refers to the degree to which the study resembles your life-Mundane realism-Larger conclusion because of a much larger cross sample of society-Covert studies avoid evaluation apprehension & demand characteristics -Does not feel a social demand, self-corrected measure-Disadvantages:-Certain things that come into play-Independent variable must be salient-Kind of obvious-In lab there is more room for subtleties-Dependent variable is often simple ( behavior is either present or absent)-Practical problems= little control over the real world & unexpected events may destroy study-Ethics in social psychology Research-Examples of controversial work:-Milgram (1963) --> obedience to authority (not going to be on exam)-One of the most controversial studies inpsych-Participants where lead to believe they are administering electrical shock to a man in another room-How far would people go to obey authority -Study that started the conversation of ethics study-Middlemist, Knowles & Matter (1976)-Invasion of personal space-(in a men's bathroom at Ohio State campus)-Croyle & Hunt (1991)-Study on anxiety-Reactions to medical test result-Subjects told they tested + for a fictitious enzyme deficiency-Risk- benefit ratio:-Ratio of risk to participants vs benefits to society-Old view: benefits will outweigh any costs-New view: (1960) humane concern for participants overrides any benefit to science-Guidelines established by American Psychology Association (APA) & National institutes of Health (NIH)-Problem of Demand Characteristics:-Potential troubling aspects (demand characteristics)-**method where you conceal what the hypothesis experiment is-***deception: a research method that deliberately conceals or misleads participants about "true" aspects of the