Social Psychology Workbook

Name:

Group:

Exam Dates:

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ContentsSpecification..........................................................................................................................................3

Social Psychology...................................................................................................................................5

Content – Obedience.............................................................................................................................7

Milgram.............................................................................................................................................8

Meuus and Raaijmakers (1985).......................................................................................................12

Content – Prejudice and discrimination..............................................................................................15

Social Identity Theory (Tajfel, 1970)................................................................................................16

Studies in detail: Hofling et al. (1966)..................................................................................................18

Studies in detail: Other study (choice).............................................................................................20

Key issue..............................................................................................................................................23

Methodology.......................................................................................................................................24

Aims.................................................................................................................................................27

Surveys............................................................................................................................................28

Evidence of practice........................................................................................................................31

Past paper questions...........................................................................................................................35

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Specification1 – Definition of the approach

1a:Define social psychology showing understanding that the approach is about aspects of human behaviour that involve the individual’s relationships to other persons, groups and society, including cultural influences on behaviour.

1b:Define and use psychological terminology accurately and appropriately including the terms:i agentic state, ii autonomous state, iii moral strain, iv in-group/out-group, v social categorisation, vi social identification, vii social comparison.

2 – Methodology/How Science Works

2a: Describe the survey as a research method in psychology, including the questionnaire and interview.

2b:Identify, describe and apply unstructured, structured and semi-structured interviews, open and closed questions, alternative hypotheses and issues around designing surveys.

2c:Describe and compare, including strengths and weaknesses, the difference between qualitative and quantitative data.

2d:Evaluate the survey as a research method, including strengths and weaknesses, and the issues of reliability, validity and subjectivity.

2e:Describe, assess and apply guidelines, such as British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines, about the use of humans in psychological research including guidelines about what not to do, and what to do to protect human participants. Guidelines to include consent, deception, right to withdraw, debriefing of participants and competence.

2f:Identify, describe and apply different sampling techniques including random sampling, stratified sampling, volunteer and self-selected sampling, and opportunity sampling, including advantages and disadvantages of each technique.

3 – Content

3a:Define what is meant by obedience.

3b:Describe and evaluate Milgram’s (1963) study of obedience andone of Milgram’s ‘variation’ studies.

3c:Describe and evaluate the Agency Theory of Obedience (Milgram, 1973).

3d:

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Describe and assess the ethical issues arising from obedience research (as applied to the participants in the study and the wider issues for society).

3e:Describe and evaluate one study of obedience from a country other than Milgram’s (USA).Suitable example:Meeus and Raaijmakers (1986) Administrative obedience. Carrying out orders to use psychological-administrative violence.

3f:Compare Milgram’s (1963) obedience study and one other from a country other than Milgram’s (USA) drawing cross-cultural conclusions.

3g:Describe what is meant by prejudice and discrimination.

3h:Describe and evaluate Tajfel’s (1970) Social Identity Theory as an explanation of prejudice.

4 – Studies in Detail

4a:Describe and evaluate two studies in detail. One of the studies must be Hofling et al (1966) Study of obedience in nurses and one other study of either obedience or prejudice in the Social Approach. This must be selected from the following:Sherif (1954) ‘Robbers’ Cave’ experimentTajfel et al (1970/71) study of minimal groupsReicher and Haslam (2006) Rethinking the psychology of tyranny: The BBC prison study.

5 – Key issue

5a:Describe one key issue of relevance to today’s society and apply concepts, theories and/or research (as appropriate) drawn from the Social Approach to explain the issue.Suitable examples:blind obedience to authority in a prison setting (for example the Abu Ghraib situation)obedience during conflict resulting in harm to others (for example My Lai Massacre, Vietnam 1968), football violence, race riots (for example St Paul’s, Bristol 1980), cult behaviour.Note: in examination, students may be given stimulus material from a key issue to explain using concepts, theories

6 - Evidence of short practice: short survey6a:

Devise and conduct one practical to gather data relevant to topics covered in the Social Approach, which must be a survey (questionnaire or interview) to gather relevant data. The survey should gather both qualitative and quantitative data. This practical must be designed and conducted according to ethical principles.Suitable examples:gender differences in obedienceprejudicial attitudes towards agein group/out group attitudes.

6b:Make design decisions in devising an interview schedule/questionnaire including sampling decisions.6c:

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Collect data and present an analysis of both the qualitative and quantitative data and draw brief conclusions about the topic from the analyses.

Social PsychologyWhat is Social Psychology

What are the assumptions of the social approach?

History of the social approach:

Applications of the social approach:

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Glossary of terms

Agentic state

Autonomous state

Moral strain

In-group/out-group

Social categorisation

Social identification

Social comparison

Complete the table with the definitions of the words listed and add any other words as you learn more about the social approach.

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Content – Obedience

What is obedience?

Suggest some every day examples of obedience:

Suggest some examples of when it would be inappropriate to obey someone:

What is agency theory?

How does agency theory explain obedience?

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Milgram

Background

“The Germans are different” hypothesis

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Milgram (1963)Aim

Procedure

Findings

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Conclusions

Variations on the baseline

Milgram conducted different versions of his study to see how the differences would affect the result.

In the baseline experiment the learner could be heard but not seen.

Complete the table on how the variations affected the results.

The learner could not be heard or seen

The learner was in the same room as the teacher i.e. could be heard and seen

The teacher had to physically hold the learners hand onto the electrode to receive the shock.

Took place in an office block rather than a university.

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Evaluation of Milgram

GRAVE

Generalisability

Reliability

Application

Validity

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Ethics

Meuus and Raaijmakers (1985)Aim

Procedure

Findings

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Conclusions

Evaluation of Meeus & Raaijmakers (1985)

GRAVE

Generalisability

Reliability

Application

Validity

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Ethics

ComparisonYou must be able to compare Milgram’s original study and Meeus & Raaijmakers’ study.

Match the issue with the correct comparison point:

Issue Comparison pointType of punishment Dutch study found a higher level of obedience. Milgram

found 65%, whereas Meeus & Raaimakers found 92%.Obedience level for main study

Both studies support the idea of agency theory because in both cases although the participants’ were clearly distressed when taking part they continued. It seems they this was not autonomous decision making. Participants were less obedient without the experimenter there, which suggests that they may be acting as an agent of the experimenter.

Effect of different type of punishment

In the Dutch study the participants had agreed to harm the participants, but Milgram’s participants had not agreed. So in the Dutch study the participants might have felt they should continue because they had agreed to. Consent levels were different.

Other differences between the two studies

Milgram asked for physical punishment to be administered (but pretend) and the Dutch study asked for psychological punishment (in more ways real, but still a set up).

Agency theory The ‘shocks’ were less remote than the psychological punishment. For example, Milgram’s participants heard screams and felt a slight shock too.

Evaluation of Agency Theory

Evidence for agency theory:

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Evidence against agency theory:

Applications:

Content – Prejudice and discrimination

What is prejudice?

What is discrimination?

Suggest some common examples of prejudice and discrimination in everyday life:

What do you think leads to prejudice and discrimination?

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Social Identity Theory (Tajfel, 1970)

What is Social Identity Theory?

Describe the three stages of Social Identity Theory below:1. Social categorisation: In-group:

Out-group:

2. Social identification:

3. Social comparison:

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With reference to the above theory and the three stages, give an example of how a specific discriminatory behaviour may come about:

Evaluation of Social Identity Theory

Evidence for social identity theory:

Evidence against social identity theory:

Applications:

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Studies in detail: Hofling et al. (1966)

Aim

Procedure

Findings

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Conclusions

Evaluation of Hofling et al. (1966)

GRAVE

Generalisability

Reliability

Application

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Validity

Ethics

Studies in detail: Other study (choice)Name:

Aim

Procedure

Findings

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Conclusions

Evaluation of other study (choice). Name:

GRAVE

Generalisability

Reliability

Application

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Validity

Ethics

Social Approach studies – EVALUATION TABLEUsing GRAVE state whether the evaluation point is a strength or a weakness for the study and

explain your point.Milgram’s original study

Meeus & Raaijmakers- Comparison study from another country

HOFLING- STUDY IN DETAIL

OTHER STUDY IN DETAIL

GeneralisabilityRefer to target population and sampling method.If not representative, sample cannot be generalised to the target population.

Reliability

If the study is hard to replicate (do again) then it cannot be shown to be reliable. Reliability means that if a study is done again the same results are found.

ApplicationIf findings from a study can be used to help society in a real-life application, e.g. Milgram’s work on the ‘Germans are not different’ issue, then this makes the study more useful, which is an evaluation point -

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But say how it is useful (to get a mark)Validity – Experimental, Ecological or Population?

Do the participants believe the research that is taking place? If a study can be seen to be about real life then it is more useful — or if it is not about real life it is not useful. Are the participants are true representation of the general population?EthicsA study can be evaluated by considering how ethical or how unethical it was-1. Competence2. Right to Withdraw3. Informed consent4. Debriefing5. Deception

Key issueSuitable examples from the spec: blind obedience to authority in a prison setting

(for example the Abu Ghraib situation), obedience during conflict resulting in harm

to others (for example My Lai Massacre, Vietnam 1968), football violence, race

riots (for example St Paul’s, Bristol 1980), cult behaviour.

Describing the issue…

One key issue from the social approach is ...

What exactly is this issue all about?

Who does this issue impact upon? Where this is issue most relevant?

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Why should we care?! Why is this important to society?

Methodology

Sampling

Method Procedure Strengths WeaknessesRandom sampling

Stratified sampling

Opportunity sampling

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Volunteer sampling

Data

Types of dataQuantitative

Strengths

Qualitative

Strengths

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Weaknesses Weaknesses

Ethics

All psychological research should adhere to ethical guidelines. In the UK these are monitored by the British Psychological Society (BPS). All research now has to be passed by an ethical committee before it can be approved, however this was not always the case……

Below are the key ethical principals:

Informed consent

Deception

Right to withdraw

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Debrief

Competence

AimsDescribe what an aim is:

Aims generally start “To investigate….”

Give some examples of aims you have come across or can suggest:

Hypotheses

A hypothesis is like a prediction, a statement of the results you are likely to find. There are two types of hypothesis you need to know:

Null hypothesis – stating that you will not find a significant result/correlation. Alternative – stating that you will find a significant result/correlation.

There are two types of alternative hypothesis; one-tailed (or directional) and two-tailed (no-directional).

Hypothesis Description ExampleNull

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Alternative : One-tailed (directional)

Alternative: Two-tailed (non-directional)

Surveys

Survey as a research method

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Features of a Survey

Survey as a research method

Definition:

Types of SurveyInterview Questionnaire

Types of questions Types of interviewOpen Structured

Closed Unstructured

Closed – multiple choice

Closed – Likert scale Semi-structured

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Evaluation of Surveys

Method Strengths WeaknessesClosed question questionnaire

Open question questionnaire

Unstructured interview

Structured interview

Semi-structured interview

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Evidence of practice

You must complete a survey which includes both open and closed questions.

Introduction: Title and background research:

Research aim:

Independent and dependent variables (IV/DV):

IV:

DV:

Alternative hypothesis (one or two-tailed):

Null hypothesis:

Sample (including target population & sampling method with justification)

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Results of pilot study and solutions:

Examples of open and closed questions:

Examples of qualitative and quantitative data obtained from questions:

Ethical considerations:

Procedure:

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Results:

Conclusion:

Link to aim and theory:

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Evaluation of survey. Title:

GRAVE

Generalisability

Reliability

Application

Validity

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Ethics

Past paper questions

1 Discrimination is most accurately defined as

A pre-judging someone before finding anything out about them.B behaving differently towards someone from another group.C believing that a member of another group is not as good as you.D stereotyping others based only on their appearance.

2 Which of the following is an illustration of moral strain?

A Ali often forgets his homework and always gives his teacher a poor excusebecause he does not care.B Jackie goes out with her friends because she thinks she deserves a nightout after working hard all week.C Asmara helps an old man across the road because he is partially sightedand cannot see the traffic lights changing.D Kazim has been asked to do something he believes to be wrong but doesnot want to disobey his father.

3 Complete the following table to show the findings of Milgram’s 1963 study. (2)

Findings Percentage (%)Participants who continued ‘shocking’ to 300 volts

Participants who continued ‘shocking’ to 450 volts

4 Outline one of Milgram’s variation studies of obedience. (3 marks)

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5 (a) What did Milgram mean by the agentic state? (2)

(b) Evaluate Milgram’s Agency Theory. (4)

6 You will have learned about one of the following studies in detail from the Social Approach:

Tajfel et al. (1971) Sherif et al. (1961) Reicher and Haslam (2006)

(a) Describe one study from the list. (5)(b) Outline one strength and one weakness of the study you described in (a). (4)

7 (a) Social identity theory includes the concept of social comparison. What is meant bysocial comparison? (2)(b) Evaluate social identity theory as an explanation of prejudice. (4)

8 As part of the course requirements for the Social Approach you will have conducted a survey (interview/questionnaire).

(a) Outline the alternative hypothesis of your survey and state whether it is directional (one-tailed) or non-directional (two-tailed). (3)

(b) Outline one problem you came across when planning and/or carrying out the survey (interview/questionnaire). (2)

(c) Explain how you might have addressed (or did address) this problem when planning and/or carrying out the survey (interview/questionnaire). (2)

9 Explain why in psychology it might be preferable to use a research method that produces qualitative rather than quantitative data.(4)

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10 Hassan does not want his participants to guess the purpose of his investigation. What feature is Hassan trying to avoid?

A Demand characteristicsB Order effectsC CounterbalancingD Randomisation

11 Identify the two correct statements below.

A Social psychology is concerned with the effects of groups on behaviour.B Social psychology is concerned with the effects of the nervous system onbehaviour.C Social psychology is concerned with the effects of the role of cognition on behaviour.D Social psychology is concerned with the effects of rewards and punishments on behaviour.E Social psychology is concerned with the effects of cultural norms onbehaviour.

12 There are concerns about possible violence at the football world cup. Dr Nelson, a psychologist, has been brought in to try and help the police understand what causes prejudice; she also wants to look at blind obedience amongst some fans.

Using ideas from social psychology, explain what advice Dr Nelson could give to help the police. (5)

13 Describe Hofling et al’s (1966) study of obedience in a hospital setting. (5)

*14 Describe and evaluate Milgram’s agency theory. (12)

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