Introduction to Introduction to Social Psychology Social Psychology

What is Social Psychology?What is Social Psychology?

OutlineOutline DefinitionDefinition Social psychology and related disciplinesSocial psychology and related disciplines

– Social Psychology and SociologySocial Psychology and Sociology

– Social Psychology and Personality PsychologySocial Psychology and Personality Psychology

– Levels of ExplanationLevels of Explanation

Social Psychology and Human ValuesSocial Psychology and Human Values I knew it all along: Is social psychology simply common sense?I knew it all along: Is social psychology simply common sense? How social psychology is doneHow social psychology is done

– Forming and TestingForming and Testing

– Correlational Research: Detecting Natural AssociationsCorrelational Research: Detecting Natural Associations

– Experimental Research: Searching for Cause and EffectExperimental Research: Searching for Cause and Effect

– Generalizing from Laboratory to LifeGeneralizing from Laboratory to Life

DefinitionDefinition Social psychology is “the scientific study of Social psychology is “the scientific study of

how people think about, influence, and relate to how people think about, influence, and relate to one another.”one another.”

How the individual mind works in the actual How the individual mind works in the actual presence of others, implied presence of others, presence of others, implied presence of others, and the imagined presence of others.and the imagined presence of others.

Studies attitude formation, self-concept, forming Studies attitude formation, self-concept, forming relationships, social influence, social thinking, relationships, social influence, social thinking, motivations for helping and harming others.motivations for helping and harming others.

Personality Psychology and Personality Psychology and Social PsychologySocial Psychology

What they have in commonWhat they have in common– both focus on the individualboth focus on the individual

DifferencesDifferences– How social character is explainedHow social character is explained– Personality: emphasis is on private, internal Personality: emphasis is on private, internal

attributes and differences between individualsattributes and differences between individuals– Social Psychology: emphasis is on what people Social Psychology: emphasis is on what people

have in common and general rules of how have in common and general rules of how people view and affect one anotherpeople view and affect one another

Levels of explanationLevels of explanation

Various perspectives that explain one event Various perspectives that explain one event are not necessarily contradictory. They are are not necessarily contradictory. They are often complimentary. often complimentary.

There is no one level of explanation that is the There is no one level of explanation that is the “real” explanation.“real” explanation.

Different levels of explanation often fit Different levels of explanation often fit together to form a fuller picture.together to form a fuller picture.

Not very useful to think in terms of either/or.Not very useful to think in terms of either/or.

The impact of human valuesThe impact of human values Values “Personal convictions about what is Values “Personal convictions about what is

desirable and how people ought to behave.”desirable and how people ought to behave.” Researcher’s values can impact their work in Researcher’s values can impact their work in

obvious and subtle ways.obvious and subtle ways. Obvious impact: historical trends Obvious impact: historical trends Subtle ways of impact: our preconceptions penetrate Subtle ways of impact: our preconceptions penetrate

our interpretationsour interpretations Much of these preconceptions are culturally Much of these preconceptions are culturally

patterned (socially shared beliefs, ideas, values, and patterned (socially shared beliefs, ideas, values, and assumptions)assumptions)

Three Worlds of Social PsychologyThree Worlds of Social Psychology North America: First WorldNorth America: First World

– Much attention on individual level explanationMuch attention on individual level explanation– Primary method is laboratory experimentsPrimary method is laboratory experiments

Other industrialized nations: Second WorldOther industrialized nations: Second World– More attention to intergroup and societal levels of More attention to intergroup and societal levels of

explanationexplanation– Method: laboratory experiments as well as natural Method: laboratory experiments as well as natural

observation and social discourse (social order)observation and social discourse (social order)

Developing countries: Third WorldDeveloping countries: Third World– Concerned with poverty, conflict, and making use of Concerned with poverty, conflict, and making use of

limited resources.limited resources.

Is social psychology simply Is social psychology simply common sense?common sense?

Many conclusions drawn from social Many conclusions drawn from social psychological research seem obvious.psychological research seem obvious.

Problem with common sense.Problem with common sense.– Tends to be activated after the fact.Tends to be activated after the fact.– Hindsight bias: “I knew it all along” Hindsight bias: “I knew it all along”

phenomenon.phenomenon. Therefore, must be cautious about relying Therefore, must be cautious about relying

only on common sense, especially in only on common sense, especially in understanding human behavior..understanding human behavior..

Correlational researchCorrelational research

PositivePositive = “same direction” = “same direction” NegativeNegative = “opposite direction” The positive or negative relationship between

two variables is called a correlation (poistive or negative).– Correlation is represented by the coefficient rCorrelation is represented by the coefficient r

» Conveys magnitude (value of r) and direction (- or +) Conveys magnitude (value of r) and direction (- or +) Ex: correlation between hours of sleep and energy level Ex: correlation between hours of sleep and energy level is r=.60 (0 < r < 1)is r=.60 (0 < r < 1)

– Correlations do not imply a causal relationshipCorrelations do not imply a causal relationship

Definition of conceptsDefinition of concepts

Hypothesis: A tentative statement, subject to empirical test, about the expected relationship between variables.

Independent variable: The variable that is manipulated in an experiment. The independent variable is believed to have an impact on the dependent variable. (multiple levels)

Dependent variable: The variable measured in a study.

Experimental Research DesignExperimental Research Design

Experimental design: Research in which independent variables are manipulated and behavior is measured while all other variables (extraneous variables) are controlled for.

Random sampling: Drawing from the population in a way that ensures equal opportunity for every member to be included in one or more conditions of the experiment.

Experimental Research Design Experimental Research Design (cont).(cont).

Control Group: A group of subjects in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment. The data from the control group are used as a baseline against which data from the experimental group are compared.

ValidityValidity

Internal Validity Internal Validity – Does the Design lend itself to testing the Does the Design lend itself to testing the

hypotheses?hypotheses? External ValidityExternal Validity

– Are the results only applicable in the controlled Are the results only applicable in the controlled seting or can they be generalized to the real seting or can they be generalized to the real world?world?

One compromises the other.One compromises the other.