some theories for group psychology

Question 1

intergroup contact theory

Answer 1

meaningful, collaborative interactions between members of different social identity groups can decrease prejudice (Gordon W. Allport)

Question 2

realistic conflict theory

Answer 2

by Sherif, intergroup hostility and conflict tend to arise when groups compete for limited resources (material goods//power//social status)

this competition leads to formations of outgroup and ingroup dynamics, which result in animosty, prejudice, discrimination bwtween the two groups

Question 3

minimal group paradigm

Answer 3

a social psychology research methodology that states that the minimal condition for one group to discriminate the other group biases (such as favouritism towards your in group or prejudice against your out group) is being a member of a group

Question 4

hawthorne effect

Answer 4

individuals modify their behaviours if they are aware of the fact that they are being observed

Question 5

field experiment

Answer 5

a field experiment is a research method that measures how the manipulation of the IV (independent variable) affect the DV (dependant variable)
in a natural, real world environmented

a type of an experiment that takes place outside of a controlled setting laboratory, in a natural, real-world environment

research method that uses some controlled elements of traditional lab experiments, but takes place in natural, real-world settings.

Question 6

advantages of field experiment

Answer 6

• high (ecological) validity, as the behaviours which are being observed are natural and observed in a natural real life setting
  higher in mundane realism than lab experiments

-reduce chances of demand characteristics and hawthorne effect

• good for establishing cause and effect relationships, as researchers manipulate a variable and masure its effect however confounding veriables make this hard i bam przechodzisz do disadvantages

Question 7

disadvantage//advantage

Answer 7

the study could lack reliability, as the researchers are with the boys for only 12 hours and they cannot see and hear everything that takes place.

HOWEVER

Sheriff took this into consideration and he made measures in order for the study to have higher reliability, such as using numbered scoring systems for the boys friendship patterns, which collected quantitative data, he also recorded the boys’ conversations in order to analyse them. he also used multiple observers for interrater reliability

Question 8

disadvantages of participant observations

Answer 8

• researchers have less control over confounding variables which might affect the results, reducing the validity between the cause and effect relatinshp
  (so many different variables also make it harder to generalise data)

-hard to generalise

• Hawthorne effect (individuals tend to adapt their behaviours, if they are aware of the fact that they are being observed)
  (HOWEVER) Sherif limited this factor by deceiving his participants, who were unaware of the fact that they are participating in a psychological study and simply thought they are at a summer camp)

-which then raises several ethical concerns, with regards to the lack of informed consent from the participants, although he did get consent from the subject’s parents on their behalf. the researchers must also ensure that the boys’ privacy and autonomy is protected

(and generally speaking, the deceival of participat is necesarry qute often, when conducting field experiments and informed consents are big problems)

Question 9

lab experiment

Answer 9

a type of an experiment that uses a strictly controlled setting and standardised procedure to measure accurately measure how changes in the IV affect the DV

Question 10

advantage of lab experiment

Answer 10

• replicability (it gives the study higher validity; when the results from one study are consisted with the results of other studies)
• standardisation (researchers can ensure all participants are subjected to the same conditions, which reduces the risks of confounding variables affecting the results

Question 11

disadvantage of lab experiment

Answer 11

• low ecological validity (which makes the study harder to generalise) (it is an artificial study that does not reflect a real life setting)

-response bias (when a participant provides inaccurate answers, as they feel like this is what the researcher wants them to do; the participants may be rewarding their ingroup, because they feel as though this is what the researchers want them to do.)

Question 12

prejudice

Answer 12

an attitude towards an individual, because of a characteristics attributed to them, based on the groups they belong to

Question 13

discrimination

Answer 13

a behaviour consisting of treating an individual differently, due to them being a part of a certain group, instead of individual merit

Question 14

confounding variables

Answer 14

a third, unmeasured variable, which may influence both the supposed cause as well as the supposed effect, which influences the results of the study