RM- the indv and the group

Question 1

RM- the indv and the group

Answer 1

Tajfel and lab experiments
GOOD
When looking at individuals and groups , we often do lab experiments bc ________ (NEED TO JUSTIFY WHY THEY DO THEM)
We do lab experiments bc as there are mny external factors that can affect how we behave in groups, lab experiments allow us to know whether or not it is solely the act of being put in a group that can affect our behaviour. The indv and group is complex, and so we need to isolate one factor before building it back together. Process of reductionism
Experiemnts allow u to recreate socila ineractions that u can observe and record repeatedly that wouldnt happen naturally. E.g there would never be a situation where there are two groups created arbitrarily.
Manipulate IV, measure DV - reductionist methodology, isolate variable, show cause and effect
THis is important for indv and behavior bc
We don’t know what the reason for people’s behaviours are
In real life, you can’t predict environment
Tajfel’s lab exp is reductionist, and made it so that the only thing diff was out group or ingroup, so we know for sure its the groups that caused favoritism
Hard to repeat in exact same environment - unreliable - experiments can control social interactions and behaviours which we can’t normally do in real situations - allows us to repeat experiments
HOWEVER, we’ve controlled situations so much to prove what we want, it may not be reliable or apply to the real world
No extraneous variables
Good internal validity - testing what we want to test
BAD
Culture/ behavior is complicated - e.g conformity, behaviours different amongst cultures
Not same situation in real life, behaviour repeating, not reliable if can’t replicate
Real world unpredictable
Low eco validity- there wouldnt be a situation w arbitrary groups irl. Even if this could cause faoritism, it might not even be a phenomenon that happens irl due to other factors

Becker
Interviews
GOOD:
Qualitative data, rich insight into social behaviour and opinions, stories, emotions
Understand WHY some people do behaviour, not just WHAT
Becker - why they ate less: thinks it helps career
Social desirability bias, saying what you think interviewer wants to here
BAD
Interpretation subjective
Time consuming - depth not breadth

Natural experiments, Charlton and Becker
When studying indv and group, we often want to know how the real world affects behavior. As such, its v important when researching that the studies we conduct are reflective of real life situations
GOOD
Observe what they do
Williams et al - observation
Charlton et al - observation
Becker
IV is naturally occuring, good eco validity
BAD
Can’t control sample or extraneous variables
Behavior is often controlled by many things/ its v complex, so its hard to know for sure wht affects it, esp in natural experiment, where we cant use reductionist approach to control behavior/ the DV