What is Social Psychology?- The scientific study of the feelings, thought, and behaviors of individuals in social situations- Different from “folk psychology”- Not just common sense and personal experience- Any human response- Internal and external- Implicit and explicit- How the typical individual will respond- Actual, imagined or implied situationsThemes within Social Psychology- The power of the situation- Ex) Stanford Prison Experiment- “Its not that we put bad apples in a good barrel. We put good apples in a bad barrel.”- Channel factors- Specific elements of the situation that affects behaviorThe Role of Construal- Interpreting RealityAutomatic vs. Controlled Processes- Implicit (unaware) vs. Explicit (aware)- Can affect construalNature (genetics/evolution)- Slight variations in genetics -> individual differences- Evolution -> human universalsNature (environment/culture)- Resources- Social situationsFolk psychology quiz1. If you beijing rewarding children for doing something that they already like, they will end up liking it a. Moreb. Lessc. The same2. In a quiz game that tests your intelligence, you’re more likely to give helpful hint to a competitor if they were:a. Your best friendb. A complete stranger3. Seeing someone you admire or respect do something that’s clumsy or stupid will make you like them:a. Moreb. Lessc. The same4. An acquaintance just loans you $20 after you ask her for money, she will now like you:a. Moreb. Lessc. The same5. In a VR shooting simulator, who would be more likely to incorrectly shoot an unarmed Person of Color compared to an unarmed White persona. Civiliansb. Experienced police officersc. Both are equally likely6. In general, people are happier when they spend money ona. Themselvesb. Other people7. Exposure to a favorite skinny female celebrity makes women feel _______ about their own bodiesa. Betterb. Worsec. The sameThe Scientific Method- Rules & procedures for collecting, analyzing, & interpreting data- Scientific research should be- Empirical - Based on concrete observations (data)- Objective - Not influenced by personal feelings/opinions (unbiases)- Cumulative - Based on multiple pieces of evidence- Possible to Replicate - able to recreate findings- Two main goals- Knowledge & understanding -> basic Research- Solution -> applied research- Theory vs Hypothesis- Theory- Overarching framework- How and why- Hypothesis- A specific prediction about what or when- Specific, testable research questionSteps:- Identify the phenomenon- Conduct background research- What has been done?- What questions still need to be answered?- Formulate a Hypothesis- Educated guess- Specific prediction- Test the hypothesis- Several forms of methodology- Variable - something that varies between individuals- operationally definition - how variables of interest are measured / defined- Must be specific and observable- Analyze and share results- Findings are meaningful- (not just due to random chance)Common methodologyObservational research - Observing and recording data in natural setting- Exploratory- Usually passive observation- Naturalistic observation: Observing in natural setting - Ethnography: observing from the inside- Archival analysis: observing accumulated documentsPros- Examine everyday behavior- Good for getting ideasCons- Hard to be unobtrusive, objective- Effortful and time consuming- Does not provide casual evidenceSurvey Research - Asking questions to assess beliefs, attitudes and behaviors- ExploratoryPros- Examine everyday behavior- Good for getting ideas- Very rich data sourceCons- Difficult to get representative samples- Sometimes inaccurate responses- Does not provide casual evidenceCorrelational Research - Measures 2 (or more) variables as they occur naturally- Predicts associations or relationships- Statistical measure from -1 to 1- 1. Direction of relationship- 2. degree/strength of the relationship- Positive correlation- Both variables increase/decrease together- coffee & alertness- Studying & test performance- Negative correlation - One variable increases and the other variable decreases- Temperature & clothing- Exercise & depression- Correlation Research: Degree/strength of relationship- Higher number (closer to 1 or -1) = stronger- Lower number (closer to zero) = weaker- The larger the absolute value, the stronger the relationshipPros- Real-world relationships- Can research variables can’t ethically manipulateCons- Does NOT provide casual evidence- Frosted flakes & Cancer = Negative correlated- Tattoos & Accidents = Positive correlated- Coffee & Heart attacks = Positive correlatedExperimental Research- Manipulate a variable(s) to assess the effect on another variable(s)- 3 criteria- Manipulate Independent variable- Measure dependent variable- Random assignment- Main Variables of interestIndependent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV)- Manipulated variable- The cause- Has multiple variations- Usually comes 1st- Measured variable- The effect (outcome)- Dependent on which variation- Usually comes at the end- Manipulating an IV creates different levels- Level: Any alteration of the var. (ex. Groups, conditions)- Experimental group(s): Groups exposed to the IV- Control Group: Groups NOT exposed to IV or exposed a neutral level- Extraneous variables- Other variables not being investigated that *may* influence the DV- Must manage and control them- Hold them constant- Evenly distributed- confounding variables- Extraneous var. That systematically varies w/ the IV - Problem - Can’t be sure the IV is what causes changes in the DV- Ex. Breakfast vs. none on test performancePros- Conclusions about casual relationshipsCons - Some things cannot be manipulated, or it is ethically wrong to do so!- Ex. gender, ethnicity, depression, cocaine useConcepts for Understanding ResearchCommon bias in social research- Observer Bias- Experimenters have preconceived ideas- Solution -> “blind” to condition- Subject bias- Participants may develop preconceived ideas- Solution -> “blind to hypotheses- Social - Desirability bias- Participants want to present themselves in a favorable light - Solution -> emphasize anonymity, subtle (or indirect) measuresValidity- Accuracy of our results- 2 types - Internal validity- The study demonstrates a casual relationship- Only the IV affected the DV- Reduce biases & confounds- External validity- Can apply findings to other situations/people- Generalizes to the real world- Often a trade-offStatistical Analysis-