psych 352

scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thoughts in social situations

systemati application of social psych constructs, principles, theories,etc to help ameliorate problems

EX: attitude: clearly defined individual psych chraacteristic that is latent and thus not directly observable

Statement of how a psych process work...such as cognitive dissonance

Integrated set of principles that describes, explains and predicts observed events

basic: develop AND test theories, and follow a deductive approach

Applied: understand AND solve problems, and use a inductive approach

Sheley taylor and women with breast cancer did research and women thought they were doing much better than other women. They believed others were worse and and even if they didn't know anyone specific, they made up a target with showed...
1) downward comparison, prevalent in those close to a threat. 2) such a comparison did not involve contact iwth others, 3)these comparisons seemed to help wome with breast cancer cope by allowing them to feel better about themselves and their own situations.

methods that depend on systematic observations to evaluate propositions and ideas

1) studies are set up in a way that allows support or refutation of the idea being tested
2) enable others to replicate it

1) accuracy
2) objectivity: minimize bias
3)scepticism: only accurate if it has been verified over and over again by data
4) open-mindedness: accept evidence as valid even if the evidence differs from one's initial beliefs

1) deception
2) informed consent
3) invasion of privacy
4) debriefing

1) description: identifying and specifying the details and nature of a phenomenon
2) prediction: enhances understanding of phenomena..To what extent the phenomenon being studied is correlated with various factors is examined
3) causality: whether change in one factor leads to a change in another
4) explanation: Why phenomenon or relationship occurs

1) individual: interpersonal characteristics and processes
2) social: effect of opinions and actions of others on our behavior
3) situational
4) cultural: cultural values affect cognition and behavior
5) biological: effect of biological process and genetic factors on our behavior

1) values play an important role in applied social psych: value influence which topics are studied by applied social psychs
2) Do not just use one theory, intervention, but use various factors.
3) interdisciplinary research
4) field research: more likely to do research in the field.
5) social utility

Extent that a behavior is supposed to be commonly approved or disapproved of

extent to which a behavior is seen as common

more effective if they specificallly address factors that contribute substantially to the particular problem behavior.

1) focus efforts on places where they will have the most impact
2) cost-effectiveness of interventions
3) Need of strong effect size

client or sponsoring agency...and therefore have strict deadlines

not in general social psych journals but more in specialized journals that focus on particular content and often published in policy-oriented publications... and also through non-technical journals, mass media, and popular lectures.

1) researcher
2) consultant (most common)
3) policy advisor

1) study the antecedent of behavior that causes the social problem
2) evaluate the effects of intervention on cognitions and behavior
3) evaluate effects of interventions on social problems and individual quality of life

U-understanding
S-Solution
E-Evaluation
Middle of triangle: social problem

Social programs are underutilized because of a lack of knowledge about the program or the behavior, and solution is education

Tried to motivate residents to conserve energy through media message of how to do it. however, faulty for lack of knowledge rarely leads to lack of behavior. Knowledge is not a motivating force.

When attitudes, norms, behavioral control and behavior are measured using the same level of measurement, it is more likely to predict behavioral intentions and behavior

Best predictor of an individual's behavior is their intention to act is based on 1)attitude 2) subjective norms 3) perceived control.

Theories are NOT facts, not observations, NOT laws. They are IDEAS, generated to explain observed events, and CAN BE WRONG

The stronger it influences the relevant behavior

1) understand the behavioral aspect of a social problem
2) Suggest ways to change the problematic behavior and work to solve it.
3) good theories are practical and useful in the real world

Intervention of a real problem done with social psych theory

They are specific, and can see if testing is wrong or right.

Frameworks that integrate theories and principles.

focus: describe how people appraise themselves and their social world
Type: attribution, cognitive dissonanace, attitudes, and TPB
Application: to design tools or interventions that describe, predict or change social appraisals

focus: how the social environment changes an individual's thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors
Type: obedience, compliance, ELM
Application: to design interventions that promote specific behaviors

Focus: describe what makes people relate to each other positively or negatively
Type: Ingroup/outgroup piases, steretypes, prejudice, discrimination, contact theory, prosocial behavior
Application: to design interventions that improve social relationships

TPB. emphasizes the straightforward framework for studying a social problem.

Kurt Lewin who said behavior is a function of person and environment

1) maintain a scientific heritage of the discipline
2)address real world problems-->led to SPSSI Society for psychological studying Social Issues

Build theory and practice and put into focus. Apply social psych to real world problems

They are function of human thinking and behavior...what problems people can change....

Antecedent is first-->behavior--> Problem

Look at HOW or What aspect works...and applied social psych is different...How to go to schemas and judgements

Look at different intervention...Big thing: did it change people's behavior.

1. is practical?
2. Generalize?
3. Cost/benefit analysis
4. politically good?

Vary commitment and mindfulness to take shorter shower. Those who were mindful took shorter shower...So needed the commitment and SHorter shower

Quest for Fundamental understanding
and
Consideration of USE

Selection by consequences...people select the consequence and act accordingly

LARGE

1. Extrinsic motivation
-->behaviorist combat with self-perception theory
2. No element of agency

1. Reciprocity (door in face)
2. Scarcity
3. Commitment and Consistency
4. Follow the lead of those who are just like them...
5. Authority
6. Liking

To reproductive systems' lack of knowledge that sex leads to babies.

1. Theory-->2. Hypothesis (testable proposition)-->3. Testing (obtain data based on observation (should be systematic and objective and quantified)-->4. Evaluate

r=magnitude of correlation
small r: .1
medium r: .3
large r: .5

How favorable sex seemed and the willingness to engage in sex when you didn't have access to contraceptive. Had a correlation of .3= looking at teen girls is favorable, more willing to engage in engage in sexual activity.

Experimental..cross-sectional measure at different age and longitudinal study over time.

Compare same age group at different years.

Those who had watched aggressive TV at third grade had significant correlation to aggresion at age 18 at high school grad.
TV13 and AGG 13 had no correlation and Agg3 and TV 13 had no correlation. Study showed that what you watch now was a significant predictor of what you will be later on.

It helps it become causal

1) Randomization
2) manipulated cnditions
3) carefully measured responses (IV and DV)
4) use inferential statistics: See if results are due by change or something was systematic.

d:.2 small
d=.5: medium
d=.8 large

*Teen preganancy study, negaitve was 4.75, controlled was 5.5 and positive was 5.75

Those who quit and after 6 months, they had a decreased view on smokers. With quasi, they have a whole new host of confounding variables.

1) control the known third variable
2) incorporate longitudinal design
3) control for past levels of the outcome variable

1) have a huge sample size and allows a great generalizability
-->but need a representative sample

How sure you can be..95% certain

Confient that answer is really between two points (margin of error...)
Wider the interval, more certain you can be. Preceision based.