Social Psychology
by David G. Myers 8th Edition
Introduction to Social Psychology
What is Social Psychology?
Definition:
What are the main areas of research today?
1. Social Thinking
2. Social Influence
3. Social Relations
What Are Social Psychology’s Big Lessons?
We construct our social reality
Our social intuitions are often powerful but sometimes perilous
Social influences shape our behavior
Personal attitudes and dispositions also shape behavior
Social behavior is also biological behavior
Social psychology’s principles are applicable to everyday life and other disciplines
Social Psychology: Related Disciplines & Levels of Explanation
Social Psychology and Human Values
Obvious ways in which values enter
People attracted to the discipline
Choice of topics
Values as the object of study
Not-so-obvious ways in which values enter
The subjective aspects of science
Psychological concepts contain hidden values
There is no bridge from "is" to "ought"
Values
Is Social Psychology Just
"Common Sense"?
Hindsight bias
The tendency to exaggerate, after learning an outcome, one’s ability to have foreseen it
the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon
How Do We Do Social Psychology?
Two General Categories of Studies
Correlational
Detecting Natural Associations
Observational Studies
Naturalistic
Laboratory
Surveys
Questionnaires
Interviews
Concerns of Correlational designs
Question wording
Third variables
Understanding Correlations
How Do We Do Social Psychology?
Two General Categories of Studies
Experimental Designs
To determine causation
Control
Random Assignment
Concerns:
Placebo Effects
Demand Characteristics
Solutions
Single and double-blind procedures
Understanding Experiments
Things to Consider in Social Psychological Research
Theory
Hypothesis
Population
Sample
Representative sample
Random sample
Random Assignment
Blind Procedures
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Survey
Placebo Effects
Third variables
Causation
Reliability
Validity