Social Psychology Definitions

Question 1

Conformity

Answer 1

a form of social influence which results from exposure to opinions of the majority, often used negatively.

Question 2

Dispositional Attribution

Answer 2

When we attribute the cause of our own or someone else’s behaviour to factors that are under direct control..

Question 3

Determinism

Answer 3

The theory that everything that happens must happen as it does and couldn’t happen any other way, pre determined.

Question 4

Controlled Laboratory Method

Answer 4

An experiment which takes place in a controlled and monitored environment.

Question 5

Obedience

Answer 5

A type of social influence whereby somebody acts in response to a direct order from another person.

Question 6

Defiant Participant

Answer 6

A participant who refuses to continue taking part in the experiment.

Question 7

Ecological Validity

Answer 7

The degree to which behaviours are observed and recorded in a study reflect the behaviours that actually occur in a natural setting.

Question 8

Agentic State

Answer 8

A state of mind from a person who will pass on responsibility for one consequence of their behaviour to the person telling them what to do.

Question 9

Demand Characteristics

Answer 9

Results of an experiment are biased because participants perform as expected due to experimenters expectancies.

Question 10

Situational Attributes

Answer 10

When a persons behaviour is due to situational factors.

Question 11

Self-Selected Sampling

Answer 11

Individuals volunteer themselves to take part in an experiment.

Question 12

Ethical Issues

Answer 12

Duty to respect human rights and participants dignity, meaning they should follow the correct rules.

Question 13

Pilot Study

Answer 13

An initial run through of the procedure to be used in an experiment.

Question 14

Whistle Blowing

Answer 14

A person who raises concern about a wrong doing in their workplace because they believe it goes against their morals.

Question 15

Psychometric Tests

Answer 15

Any standardised procedure for measuring sensitivity, memory, intelligence etc.

Question 16

Situational Hypothesis

Answer 16

Supports the idea that behaviour is caused by the situation or environment a participant finds themselves in.

Question 17

Dispositional Hypothesis

Answer 17

A hypothesis the idea that behaviour is caused by an individuals personality.

Question 18

Disobedience

Answer 18

Refusal to obey rules from someone in authority.

Question 19

Religiosity

Answer 19

Strong religious beliefs or ideas.

Question 20

Social Values

Answer 20

A belief or idea a social group holds.

Question 21

Ethics Committee

Answer 21

An ethics committee is a body responsible for ensuring that medical experimentation and human research are carried out in an ethical manner in accordance with national and international law

Question 22

Sensory Deprivation

Answer 22

A process by which someone is deprived of normal external stimuli such as sight or sound.