The Science of Social Psychology

Social Psychology

Seeks broad understanding of how people think, act, and feel

ABC Triad

Affect, Behavior, Cognition

Affect

How we feel about people and our attitudes

Behavior

How people act

Cognition

How people think about themselves, others, important issues in the social world

Null hypothesis H0

Predicts no relationship or differences

Research alternative hypothesis H1

What researcher thinks will happen

Null hypothesis significance testing outcomes

Reject H0 OR fail to reject H0

An example of a type I error (false positive)

The patient does not have a disease, the medical test says they are not healthy, the doctor concludes the patient is sick when they are actually well

An example of type II error (false negative)

The patient has a disease, the medical test says they are healthy, the doctor fails to detect the illness

Type I error

Reject H0 when H0 is true

Type II error

Fail to reject H0 when H0 is false

Negative correlation

One increases, while the other decreases

Positive correlation

One increases while the other increases

Directionality problem

the inability to know which variable causes changes in the other when two variables are correlated

Third variable problem

an unmeasured external factor that influences both variables being studied

Illusory correlation

overestimation of link between variables with little to no relationship

An example of illusory correlation

Having a friend contact you when you were thinking about contacting them

Independent variable

manipulated variable; causes changes in DV

Dependent variable

result of manipulated IV

Internal validity

extent to which changes in IV caused changed in DV

In experimental research, if extraneous variables are not adequately controlled this can...

confound the study, creating a false or distorted relationship

Random assignment

Each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to one of the experimental groups

Random assignment controls for possible...

confounds such as dispositional traits

An example of random assignment

Group 1 violent video game, group 2 non-violent video game

quasi-experiment

A study where the researcher does not randomly assign participants to groups.

Example of a quasi-experiment

A researcher studies the impact of a new math app by giving it to Classroom A, while Classroom B uses the old textbook.

A benefit of quasi-experiment

They are realistic and practical for studying behavior in natural settings while allowing researchers to control some variables.

A con of quasi-experiment

is that it lacks random assignment, which can lead to potential biases and confounding variables affecting the results.

The 2 types of realism in experimental research

Mundane realism, experimental realism

Mundane realism (in experimental research)

The degree to which the physical setting, materials, and procedures of a research study resemble ordinary, real-world events

Real-world environment (Does it look and feel like everyday life?)

Experimental realism (in experimental research)

the degree to which an experiment absorbs and involves participants in a genuine, impactful psychological state, making them forget they are in a study

Real psychological state (Are the participant's emotions and reactions genuine?)

Is this research study high or low experimental realism?

A participant takes a fake personality test. The computer generates a generic result saying, "You are a selfish person." The participant feels deeply offended and argues with the researcher.

High experimental realism.

The test score is fake, but the participant's hurt feelings are 100% real.

Does this setup have high or low mundane realism? Why?

Researchers want to study social behavior. Instead of using a sterile university lab room, they rent out a local neighborhood pub with neon signs, loud music, sticky floors, and a real bartender to conduct their study.

High Mundane Realism.

The physical environment and context perfectly mirror an everyday, real-world setting. The surroundings look, sound, and feel exactly like a place people would go to in normal life.

External validity

extent to which study findings can be generalized through replication

Does this research study have high or low external validity?

A quiet laboratory study shows a meditation program reduces anxiety in 19-to-22-year-old college students.

Low external validity.

The results might not apply to older adults or children. Real life is noisy and stressful, unlike a completely silent lab.

Ecological validity (sub-type of external validity)

refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings. It assesses whether the context, materials, and participants in a study reflect those in everyday life.

Demand characteristics

An aspect of a study that might inform participants about the hypothesis of the study of what behaviors are expected

Replication (in research studies)

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances

How can replication in research studies become a problem?

when independent studies fail to reproduce original published findings, exposing systemic flaws in how scientific claims are tested and validated

Reasons for lack of replication.

-Small sample size / insufficient power

-Questionable research methodology and/or statistical practices

-Moderating variables

-Data fraud

How do we solve the replication problem?

-Journals dedicated to publishing replication attempts

-Grant money available for replication attempts

-Open Science: Make all sources, methodology, data, reviews, and articles open and available to everyone

The extent to which a study's results are generalizable because it is high in realism is known as?

Ecological validity

A researcher fining significant results in their study when those results do not exist in the population of interest (a false positive) is known as?

Type I error