PSYC 205 Social Psychology Final Project Notes

PSYC 205 Social Psychology Final Project - Spring 2025

Overview

• Weight: 15% of final grade.
• Group project.
• Submit a project discussing an area of Social Psychology.

Project Rubrics

Required Components:

• An online test or interviews about attitudes related to a social problem.
• Analysis of the survey/test data.
• Introduction to the problem and literature review.
• A case scenario example.
• Factors influencing the social problem.
• Strategies for solving or minimizing the problem from a social psychology perspective.

Component Marks Breakdown:

• Introduction & Literature Review (1.5 Marks):
  • Excellent: Clear, relevant, and thorough context and theoretical grounding.
  • Good: Adequate background provided.
  • Satisfactory: Some gaps in explanation.
  • Needs Improvement: Lacks background or unclear.
• Case Example (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: Relevant, detailed, and well-explained real-life case.
  • Good: Relevant but not detailed.
  • Satisfactory: Case provided with little context.
  • Needs Improvement: Inappropriate or unclear case.
• Data Collection (Survey or Interview) (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: Method appropriate and well executed.
  • Good: Some minor flaws.
  • Satisfactory: Basic execution.
  • Needs Improvement: Lacks clarity or rigor.
• Analysis (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: In-depth and insightful.
  • Good: Some analysis, lacks depth.
  • Satisfactory: Minimal interpretation.
  • Needs Improvement: Not analyzed effectively.
• Social Psychological Factors (1.5 Marks):
  • Excellent: Explains key theories and concepts clearly.
  • Good: Mostly accurate and relevant.
  • Satisfactory: Limited explanation.
  • Needs Improvement: Poor or incorrect use of theory.
• Solutions/Strategies (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: Insightful, research-backed solutions.
  • Good: Practical but general suggestions.
  • Satisfactory: Vague or incomplete strategies.
  • Needs Improvement: Lacks proposed solutions.
• References (Minimum 2) (1 Mark):
  • Excellent: Accurate and correctly cited.
  • Good: Mostly cited correctly.
  • Satisfactory: Some errors or only 1 reference.
  • Needs Improvement: No references or incorrect format.

Presentation (5 Marks Total)

• Idea Communication (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: Clear, engaging, and confident explanation.
  • Good: Clear but less engaging.
  • Satisfactory: Understandable but dull.
  • Needs Improvement: Hard to follow.
• Team Effectiveness (2 Marks):
  • Excellent: Coordinated, creative, confident teamwork.
  • Good: Mostly well-organized.
  • Satisfactory: Uneven participation.
  • Needs Improvement: Poor collaboration.
• Visual/Media Support (1 Mark):
  • Excellent: Relevant and enhances understanding.
  • Good: Somewhat relevant.
  • Satisfactory: Minimal use.
  • Needs Improvement: Not used or distracting.

Suggested Social Psychology Scales:

• Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
• Likert Scale

Suggested Case Scenarios to Choose From:

1. Helping Behavior in Daily Life

• Scenario: Observe or interview people about how often they help others (e.g., holding doors, offering help).
• Suggested Scale: Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM) - Measures the frequency and type of helping behavior.

2. Peer Pressure and Conformity

• Scenario: Interview students about times they agreed with a group even when they disagreed inside (e.g., fashion, opinions, activities).
• Suggested Scale: Revised Conformity Scale - Measures how likely someone is to conform to peer or group norms.

3. Kindness and Mood

• Scenario: Perform or observe random acts of kindness, then reflect on emotional effects.

4. Social Media and Self-Perception

• Scenario: Analyze how people feel after using social media (e.g., Instagram, TikTok).
• Suggested Scale: Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale - Measures self-esteem levels, possibly comparing high vs. low social media use.

5. Prejudice Awareness

• Scenario: Interview peers about stereotypes they’ve heard or experienced.
• Suggested Scale: Likert Scale – Classic Attitude Measurement Tool

6. Effects of Compliments

• Scenario: Give compliments to classmates/strangers and record their reactions and your feelings.

7. Impact of Social Norms on Behavior

• Scenario: Try doing something small that breaks a social norm (e.g., wearing pajamas in public) and note people’s reactions.

8. Leadership Styles in Groups

• Scenario: Observe or reflect on a group project and how leadership was shared or imposed.

9. Attitudes Toward Gender Equality

• Use For: Gender norms, workplace roles, leadership roles.
• Sample Items:
  • Men and women should receive equal pay for the same job.
  • Women are just as capable as men in leadership roles.
  • Gender should not determine what kind of job a person does.

Important Notes:

• Projects submitted after the deadline will lose points unless prior arrangements have been made.
• The whole group project and presentation should be submitted via BB (Blackboard), individually by each member.
• A 15-minute presentation to the whole class will be carried out, and each group member should present.
• Group size: 5 members maximum.
• Avoid plagiarism.
• Include references. Minimum 2 references. Citations should be accurate. Use correct format for all references. Ensure all references are properly formatted, and plagiarism is avoided.