Soc124 part 1 01/21

Course Overview

• Last week covered Chapter 1 (Introduction).

• This week we are focusing on Chapter 3; Chapter 2 was not assigned.

• Discussion will include research methods in social psychology; a refresher will be provided, but no reading is required.

• Exams are online; accommodations will be set up accordingly.

Importance of Social Psychology

• Understanding social psychology and research methods enhances critical consumption of information.

• Emphasis on making a good impression can lead to biased data collection.

• Ethical considerations prohibit covert observation of participants; we aim to avoid feelings of invasion of privacy.

Research Methods Overview

Correlational Research

• Observational method where researchers look for relationships between variables.

• Example: Correlation between smoking and lung cancer; it's ethically infeasible to conduct experiments with smoking.

• Daily temperature and the number of homes with heaters showcased random data points, illustrating no clear correlation.

• Distinction between positive and negative correlations:

  • Positive correlation: as one variable increases, the other does as well.

  • Negative correlation: as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Experimental Research

• Controls environment to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

• Essential characteristics of experimental research include:

  • Control of study conditions.

  • Random assignment to groups to ensure unbiased results.

Ethical Considerations

• Discussion on incomplete disclosure in research and its implications.

• Balance between informing participants and ensuring authentic behavior.

Theoretical Underpinnings

Schema Theory

• Schemas are mental structures that help organize knowledge and guide cognitive processes.

• They influence how we interpret new experiences based on past encounters.

• Examples of schemas include dining at a restaurant or participating in a classroom setting.

Learned Helplessness

• Experiment with dogs showed that those with no control over negative stimuli eventually cease to try when given a chance to escape.

• This concept parallels human behavior; repeated failures may lead to a state of learned helplessness where individuals stop trying.

• Promoting small successes in individuals can help in changing this mindset.

Conclusion

• Importance of understanding psychological concepts such as correlation, causation, schemas, and learned helplessness in social psychology.

• Encouragement for active participation and support in learning from past experiences to improve self-efficacy and motivation.