Additional ReadingAdditional Reading

►Forsyth pg. 112-115Forsyth pg. 112-115 SocializationSocialization

Research MethodsResearch Methods

► SociometrySociometry ActivityActivity

► Surveys and QuestionnairesSurveys and Questionnaires ActivityActivity

► Case StudiesCase Studies

► Research EthicsResearch Ethics ActivityActivity

SociometrySociometry► SociometrySociometry

A technique for analyzing the pattern of A technique for analyzing the pattern of relationships among group members- especially relationships among group members- especially hierarchies, friendship networks and cliqueshierarchies, friendship networks and cliques

► SociogramSociogram A graphic display of group members ratings of A graphic display of group members ratings of

one anotherone another Stars (center): individuals preferred by many Stars (center): individuals preferred by many

membersmembers Isolates (edges): preferred by fewIsolates (edges): preferred by few Chains: members who form cliquesChains: members who form cliques

► Sociometric status:Sociometric status: Average rating of how much a member is likedAverage rating of how much a member is liked

SociogramSociogram

Activity: Make a SociogramActivity: Make a Sociogram

► Many TV shows are about a group of Many TV shows are about a group of friends of co-workers. Choose such friends of co-workers. Choose such a show that all group members are a show that all group members are familiar with and make a sociogram familiar with and make a sociogram where each member is represented where each member is represented by a circle and arrows from one by a circle and arrows from one circle to another represent whether circle to another represent whether the relationship is positive or the relationship is positive or negative (use a + or – mark). Place negative (use a + or – mark). Place individuals that are preferred by individuals that are preferred by many group members (stars) in the many group members (stars) in the center, and put those that are center, and put those that are preferred by few (isolates) on the preferred by few (isolates) on the edges.edges.

Surveys and Surveys and QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

► Paper and pencil instruments to measure Paper and pencil instruments to measure various aspects of group functioningvarious aspects of group functioning

Dependent variables in experimentsDependent variables in experiments Variables in correlational studiesVariables in correlational studies Simply to provide group feedbackSimply to provide group feedback

► Advantages of survey researchAdvantages of survey research EfficiencyEfficiency GeneralizabilityGeneralizability Considered easy to designConsidered easy to design

Writing QuestionsWriting Questions

Discuss the following questions with your Discuss the following questions with your neighbor.neighbor.

Think about difficulties respondents might Think about difficulties respondents might have in: have in:

► answering a questionanswering a question► answering it truthfullyanswering it truthfully

QuestionsQuestions

1.1. How often do you use the Internet at How often do you use the Internet at work to look up information about sports?work to look up information about sports?

2.2. If you didn’t use email to keep in touch If you didn’t use email to keep in touch with friends, how else would you do it?with friends, how else would you do it?

3.3. What annoys you the most about cell What annoys you the most about cell phones?phones?

4.4. How have you used the Internet to learn How have you used the Internet to learn about improving your health habits?about improving your health habits?

Pitfalls in Survey DesignPitfalls in Survey Design

►Problems with measurements:Problems with measurements: The questions we askThe questions we ask The way we present the questionsThe way we present the questions

►NonresponseNonresponse

Writing Questions – Pitfalls to Writing Questions – Pitfalls to AvoidAvoid

► Confusing questionsConfusing questions are not clear to are not clear to respondents. Examples:respondents. Examples: Double negatives Double negatives Double barreled questionsDouble barreled questions

► Biased questionsBiased questions lead respondents to lead respondents to answer in a certain wayanswer in a certain way

► Uncomfortable questionsUncomfortable questions make it difficult for make it difficult for respondents to agree (or disagree) with a respondents to agree (or disagree) with a statementstatement

Writing Questions – Pitfalls to Writing Questions – Pitfalls to AvoidAvoid

►Forced-choice questionsForced-choice questions prevent a prevent a respondent who has no opinion from respondent who has no opinion from answering them truthfullyanswering them truthfully

►Vague response categoriesVague response categories make it make it difficult for respondents to choose a difficult for respondents to choose a responseresponse

►Overlapping response categoriesOverlapping response categories confuses the respondent who has to confuses the respondent who has to choose between two or more categories choose between two or more categories for an answerfor an answer

Case StudiesCase Studies► An intensive An intensive

description and description and analysis of groups.analysis of groups.

►May use a variety of May use a variety of research methodsresearch methods ObservationsObservations Interviews Interviews SurveysSurveys

► Advantages:Advantages: Informing us on rare, Informing us on rare,

unusual or noteworthy unusual or noteworthy conditions not easily conditions not easily studied otherwisestudied otherwise

►Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Causes cannot be Causes cannot be

identifiedidentified

Hawthorne Plant StudiesHawthorne Plant Studies

Ethics in ResearchEthics in Research

►Group dynamics Group dynamics researchers protect researchers protect the rights of the the rights of the groups and people groups and people they study by they study by following a number following a number of ethical of ethical guidelines.guidelines.

Ethical Treatment of Human Ethical Treatment of Human ParticipantsParticipants

► Informed consentInformed consent

► Individual freedom Individual freedom to withdrawto withdraw

► Use of deceptionUse of deception

► Protection from Protection from physical/psychologiphysical/psychological harmcal harm

► Confidentiality of Confidentiality of datadata

► Evaluate Evaluate risk/benefit ratiorisk/benefit ratio

►DebriefingDebriefing

Ethical Review BoardsEthical Review Boards► AKA Institutional review AKA Institutional review

boardboard

► Examine proposed Examine proposed research studies to research studies to determine whether they determine whether they are in accordance with are in accordance with standard ethical standard ethical guidelinesguidelines

Research Ethics ActivityResearch Ethics Activity

► Role play members of an IRB.Role play members of an IRB.► Read the proposed project, evaluate on Read the proposed project, evaluate on

methodology and ethics.methodology and ethics.1)1) Identify measurement methods used Identify measurement methods used

(observational, self-report…)(observational, self-report…)

2)2) Identify design as case-study, correlational, Identify design as case-study, correlational, experimentalexperimental

3)3) Decide if project is ethical or unethical. If Decide if project is ethical or unethical. If unethical, make suggestions to make it unethical, make suggestions to make it ethical.ethical.