THE SOCIAL APPROACHKey Assumptions

1.

2.

Research Methods1.

2.

In-depth areas of study1.

2.

Studies in detail1.

2.

Key Words

Key Application

KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF

THE SOCIAL APPROACHP5

1. Individuals and groups affect our behaviour

provide an eg:

2. Culture and society affect our behaviour

provide an eg:

RESEARCH METHODS USED IN THE SOCIAL

APPROACHP102

Experiments

[Natural, field, laboratory, quasi]

Surveys

What is an experiment?

ControlApparatus

Venue

“ involve manipulating a single variable whilst controlling others allowing psychologists to draw inferences about cause and effect”

Laboratory experiments

( in the studio )

+ maximum control of confounding ( extraneous variables )

+ can claim cause and effect

+ findings can be repeated by others

- artificial

- lack of generalisability

- demand characteristics

- experimenter effectsField Experiments

(on location and documentaries)

+ the field experiment takes place in the real world and has higher ecological validity than lab experiments

- some control over variables is lost and so replication harder

- less reliable than lab experiments

- ethical issues

- generalisability

Natural Experiments

Uses naturally occurring events

+ high ecological validity

+ more ethical for participants

- loss of control and lower confidence concerning cause and effect

There is no manipulation of

the Independent Variable

SurveysP8

Provide information about groups of people.

Data is collected by interview or questionnaire

Researcher identifies target population

Representative sample chosen

Data analysed

Advantages of Surveys

Participants can see what is being asked so can give informed consent

Closed questions can be easily analysed

Can be reliable because can be repeated

Quick, cheap and easy to administer

Disadvantages of Surveys

participants may not be truthful, so lack of validity

closed questions mean participants cannot give all information, so some data is lost

if repeated on a different day, different answers may be given

poor response rate

who fills them in

questionnaires only find out about attitudes not behaviour

Interviews

StructuredFollows a set format

UnstructuredInvolves questions not

in a set format, respondents answer

may dictate questionsSemi-structured

Has set questions but interviewer can

expand

Advantages

Good for in-depth and detailed information

Information is valid as interviewees use their

own wordsDisadvantages

Interviewer bias e.g. gende, tone of voice

Subjective analysis, researcher’s views

may influence analysisComparing

questionnaires and interviews

P23

Reliability

Validity

Subjectivity

Worksheet on Experiments and Surveys1. Here is a list of terms that you should know related to methods in psychology. You should find a definition for each one and write it in your own words to show that you understand them.

a. Control group

b. Null hypothesis

c. Dependent variable

d. Participant variable

e. Operationalisation

f. Confounding variable

g. Volunteer sampling

h. Social desirability

i. Alternative hypothesis

j. Independent variable

k. Situational variable

l. Qualitative data

m. Demand characteristics

n. Subjectivity

o. Target population

p. Random sampling

q. Reliability

r. Validity

s. Ecological validity

2. You have been given some examples of different types of experiments and also a survey. We have also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of these methods. Use examples from the studies given to complete the following tables.

ExperimentsStrength one Example from a study

Strength two

Strength three

Weakness one Example from a study

Weakness two

Weakness three

SurveysStrength one Example from a study

Strength two

Strength three

Weakness one Example from a study

Weakness two

Weakness three

Structured InterviewsStrength one Example from a study

Strength two

Strength three

Weakness one Example from a study

Weakness two

Weakness three

Unstructured InterviewsStrength one Example from a study

Strength two

Strength three

Weakness one Example from a study

Weakness two

Weakness three

1. Outline two general assumptions of the social approach.

Assumption 1

Assumption 2

6 marks

2. Outline two research methods commonly used in the social approach.

Method 1

Method 2

Test 1 on the Social Approach

6 marks

3 Evaluate one of the methods that you have described above.

3 marks

4 Compare surveys and interviews as a research method.

Total : / 20 marks

In-depth areas of study

ObedienceP35

Define:

PrejudiceP54

Define:

Evaluation sheet for

This study is from the approach.

Why was the study performed?

Name

What was the aim of the study?

Give details of the sample. ( number, age, method of selection and any other factors )

What methodology ( and design where appropriate ) was used ?

Give a brief outline of the procedure that was followed.

Identify two strengths and weaknesses of this method. ( Relate these to the study.)

Identify the dependent and independent variables.

What were the main findings ?

Identify any problems with the study ( consider reliability, validity, ethics, confounding variables,generalisation )

What are the implications of the study?

How could the knowledge gained from the study be applied in everyday life?

Key study IssuesProvide at least three variations of Milgram’s original study. P411.2.3.

Compare Milgram’s obedience studies (1963,1974) and Meeus and Raajmakers (1986)p50

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

The Agency Theory of Obedience

P41

Outline theory:

The Social Identity TheoryP54

Outline theory:

Evaluation of Agencyp43

+ The theory explains the findings in Milgram’s original research and variations: they were doing what they were told and did not take responsibility+ Explains wider social atrocities such as the holocaust or My Lai massacre

- There are other explanations of obedience such as social power

- Describes how society works but does not explain it

Evaluation of Social Identity Theory

P56+ Supported by research evidence – see Tajfel et al (1970,1971)+ Has practical applications as can explain real life events such as football hooliganism

- Does not account for individual differences in prejudice

- Prejudice is more complicated than just in-group/out-group alone.

Now to check the rest:- Outline ethical guidelines: informed

consent, deception, right to withdraw, protection of participants from harm, debriefing p24

- State how they are each overcome- Provide examples of how each has been

broken and over come in research- Explain random sampling, stratified,

volunteer/self-selected and opportunity p30- Provide an advantage and disadvantage of

each- Explain qualitative and quantitative data

p12- Provide two strengths and weaknesses of

each p 13- Outline and evaluate Milgram (1963) p36,

Hofling (1966) p58 Meeus and Raaijmaker (1986) p44 and Tajfel et al (1970,1971) CD-Rom.

- Describe Key Issue – Obedience in war situations p 79

- Use concepts and ideas to explain the key issue p79

- Read over your Survey and think about how you carried it out, chose the sample, analysed the results, considered reliability/validity, controlled for extraneous (situational/participant) variables

The Social ApproachAnswer ALL the questions in the spaces provided.

Name

1. Explain how culture can affect Obedience

(3)

2. Describe surveys as a research method

(4)

3. Evaluate Milgram’s study of obedience.

(6)

4. Describe one study of obedience other than Milgram’s.

(4)

5. Explain ONE theory of why we obey.

(6)

6. Discuss Social Identity Theory as an explanation of prejudice.

(6)

7. Outline and evaluate one way in which prejudice can be reduced.

(6)

8. Compare the research of Milgram (1963) and one other study of Obedience from a different culture.

(6)

9. Outline one Key Issue where links can be made to concepts within the social approach.

(4)

10. Explain the Key Issue you gave above, in terms of concepts within the social approach.

(6)

Total_______(51)

Useful WebsitesThis is a good online quiz on social psychology

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072413875/student_view0/chapter6/multiple_choice_quiz.html

This is an online crossword on Milgram http://www.holah.karoo.net/milcross.htm

and a multiple choice test on Milgramhttp://www.holah.karoo.net/milgrammulti.htm

A lot of different fun tests on Tajfelhttp://www.holah.karoo.net/tajfel.htm

and on Zimbardohttp://www.holah.karoo.net/zimbardo.htm

mw/psychology/thesocialapproach