Social Psychology--Introduction

Social Psychology

. . . is the study of individuals as they think about, feel about,
and/or behave in a social situation.

Book: Social psychology is the scientific study of how people
think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Level of Explanation

- Cultural environmental factors
- Social environmental factors
- Physical environmental factors
- Temporary individual differences
- Acquired individual differences
- Biological factors

Experimental Terms

- Dependent Variable
- Independent Variable
- Operational Definition
- Experimental Group
- Control Group
- Random Assignment
- Placebo

Design of Studies

Correlational/Laboratory:
Ask people to fill out two forms, one on helping behavior and the other on family income. Experimental/Laboratory:
Have someone trying to lift a heavy box. Subject is either alone with the person or one of many.

Correlational/Field:
Get United Way records. See if donations come from larger or smaller cities. Experimental/Field:
Select 20 universities about equal on several dimensions. Randomly assign half to an ad campaign. Measure blood donations.

return to Social Psychology

Correlational/Laboratory: Ask people to fill out two forms, one on helping behavior and the other on family income.	Experimental/Laboratory: Have someone trying to lift a heavy box. Subject is either alone with the person or one of many.
Correlational/Field: Get United Way records. See if donations come from larger or smaller cities.	Experimental/Field: Select 20 universities about equal on several dimensions. Randomly assign half to an ad campaign. Measure blood donations.