Introduction to Social Psychology and Individual Differences

Question 1

what are the two main approaches of social psychology?

Answer 1

1. experimental/traditional social psychology
2. critical social psychology

Question 2

how does experimental/traditional social psychology see the social world?

Answer 2

as separate to the person

Question 3

what method does the experimental/traditional social psychology use?

Answer 3

the scientific method to examine social phenomena

Question 4

what does critical social psychology believe about the scientific method?

Answer 4

it is not the only way to understand social phenomena, as the social world is used to produce meaningful interactions

Question 5

fundamental axioms

Answer 5

1. the construction of reality (ontology)
2. pervasiveness of social influence

Question 6

what do individual differences explain?

Answer 6

observable differences between people in terms of thoughts and behaviours

Question 7

what do individual differences assume?

Answer 7

can be measured, classified, used to predict behaviour, and have consistency and stability

Question 8

what did traditional social psychology move towards?

Answer 8

natural science and objectivity in response to psychoanalysis

Question 9

what does traditional social psychology believe?

Answer 9

• differential intrapersonal factors can be separated to predict behavioural outcomes
• interpersonal effects can be broken down to create a theory of human behaviour

Question 10

data collection in traditional social psychology

Answer 10

self-report, observation, experimentation

Question 11

factor analysis

Answer 11

statistical process that reduces data into common points of association

Question 12

quantitative research quality

Answer 12

reliability, validity, and generalisability

Question 13

inter-rater reliability

Answer 13

the degree of observer agreement

Question 14

internal validity

Answer 14

does it measure what it means to?

Question 15

construct validity

Answer 15

is the measure tangible?

Question 16

criterion validity?

Answer 16

does the measure predict the outcome?

Question 17

what did critical social psychology reconnect with?

Answer 17

europe and the focus on the utility of language

Question 18

what is critical social psychology sceptical of?

Answer 18

knowledge and understanding

Question 19

data collection in critical social psychology

Answer 19

interviews, story completion, and focus groups to prioritise language and data analysis

Question 20

ethnography

Answer 20

the scientific study of a particular community to explore cultural phenomena

Question 21

qualitative research quality

Answer 21

sensitivity, commitment and rigour, transparency, and impact