Social Psychology Research
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Chapter 2: Social Psychology Research
- The Research Process.
- Measuring Social Psychological Variables.
- Research Designs.
- Research Ethics.
- Values in Social Psychology.
Image summary: An illustration shows a group of diverse people holding up white masks to hide their faces, symbolizing the contrast between public personas and private identities in social psychology.
How do Social Psychologists do research?
Social Psychology Research Methods
- Social Psychology employs the scientific method to study social behavior.
- Research is systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena.
- Social psychological research involves both basic research and applied research.
Image summary: An illustration shows a group of people working together on a large-scale project, emphasizing a collaborative and analytical environment with figures using laptops and interacting with abstract red connecting lines.
Image summary: An artistic illustration of a human head profile, filled with a colorful, abstract watercolor splash pattern in shades of yellow, purple, orange, and red. The image symbolizes creativity and the human mind.
Quantitative research versus Qualitative research
Conceptual Variables and Operational Definitions
- Researchers often must transform abstract, conceptual variables into specific operational definitions that indicate exactly how the variables are to be manipulated or measured.
- For example, love.
- Construct validity is the extent to which the operational definitions successfully measure what it ought to measure.
Image summary: An illustration of a couple standing close to each other, with a floating heart above them, symbolizing the conceptual variable of love.
Measuring Variables
- In self-reports, participants indicate their thoughts, feelings, desires, and actions.
- Self-reports can be distorted by efforts to make a good impression.
Image summary: A scatter plot showing a strong positive linear correlation between two variables, where the data points trend upward from left to right.
Image summary: A set of five stars and a slider bar, illustrating different ways to quantify ratings or levels of agreement.
Image summary: A gauge or speedometer-style dial with a needle pointing to a green section, with faces ranging from sad to happy to represent different emotional scales.
Measuring Variables
Observations.
- This is another way for social psychologists to measure variables.
- Interrater reliability, or the level of agreement among multiple observers of the same behaviour, is important when measuring variables using observation.
Image summary: A scatter plot showing a strong positive correlation, where data points trend diagonally upward from the bottom-left to the top-right.
Image summary: An illustration illustrating observation, featuring a person's face, a magnifying glass focusing on an eye, and simplified figures of people representing observers.
Measuring Variables
Technology and Psychophysiological Measures
- These include magnetic resonance imaging, also known as M.R.I, and functional M.R.I, or f.M.R.I.
- Cardiovascular measures are also used, including heart rate measured in beats per minute, and heart rate variability.
- Other measures include pupil dilation, called pupillometry, and eye movement.
Image summary: The slide features two illustrations. On the top right is a stylized image of a human brain with colorful highlighted regions of activity. Below that is a diagram showing a person lying in an MRI scanner, with a monitor displaying a brain scan.
Research Designs
- Descriptive Research.
- Observational Research.
- Archival Research.
- Experimental Research.
- Correlational Research.
- Case Study.
- Meta-analysis.
Image summary: An illustration showing research activities, including a person with a magnifying glass, a person with a laptop, and various data reports, charts, and a tablet, emphasizing the process of investigation and analysis.
Correlational Research
- Correlational research is used to detect natural associations between variables.
- Keep in mind that correlation does not equal causation.
Image summary: A scatter plot shows a series of colored dots with a positive linear trend line moving upwards and to the right, illustrating a positive correlation between two variables.
Experimental Research
Here are some examples.
- The obesity prejudice study examined phone conversations with an obese person versus a non-obese person.
- The T.V violence study looked at children exposed to Power Rangers versus a control group.
Image summary: An illustration on the right shows a diverse group of four people standing together, with two of them giving a high-five, suggesting teamwork or positive results.
Steps in the Process of Social Psychological Research
Image summary: A circular diagram illustrates the research process as a cycle of seven interconnected steps. The steps revolve around a central hub labeled 'The Research Process', moving from initiating the study and locating information to selecting a method, collecting and analyzing data, and finally organizing and reporting the results.
- Step 1: Selecting a research topic.
- Step 2: Searching the research literature.
- Step 3: Formulating hypotheses.
- Step 4: Selecting a research method.
- Step 5: Collecting the data.
- Step 6: Analyzing the data.
- Step 7: Reporting the results.
Ethics in Research
Image summary: An image of the cover of the Handbook of Ethics and Social Psychology, edited by Simon M. Laham, featuring a photograph of a cloudy blue sky.
- Ethics refers to the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research.
- We have a moral responsibility to protect research participants from harm.
- The purpose of these codes of conduct is to protect research participants, the reputation of psychology, and psychologists themselves.
Informed Consent
- Through informed consent, individuals are asked whether they wish to participate in the research project and must be given enough information to make an informed decision.
- Participants must also know that they are free to withdraw from participation in the research at any point.
Image summary: A photograph shows a close-up of a document titled Informed Consent, held by a person, emphasizing the administrative process of obtaining participant permission.
Debriefing
Image summary: An illustration shows three people in different emotional states. One person on a screen looks distressed with their head in their hands, another on a screen appears to be explaining something, and a third person in the foreground is calmly taking notes on a clipboard.
- Debriefing is a disclosure, made to participants after research procedures are completed, in which the researcher explains the purpose of the research, attempts to resolve any negative feelings, and emphasizes the scientific contribution made by the participants' involvement.
Strategies to Build and Maintain Psychological Safety During Debriefing
Image summary: A Venn diagram illustrates two categories of strategies to build psychological safety. The left circle, labeled implicit strategies, includes eye contact, empathy, active listening, and positive regard. The right circle, labeled explicit strategies, includes validation, inclusivity, curiosity, and vulnerability. The two categories overlap in the center.
Next meeting:
- Watch the 2015 Movie entitled: The Stanford Prison Experiment.
You can find it at bilibili dot tv U.R.L.
Prepare for an Activity next meeting.