Topic 1 - Social Psychology

Question 1

What are the classic and contemporary studies for Social Psychology?

Answer 1

Classic: Sherif et al. (1954/1961)

Contemporary: Burger (2009)

Question 2

What are the 3 advantages of the use of questionnaires in social psychology?

Answer 2

Adorno’s F-scale authoritarian personality type can be repeated for consistency and reliability

Qualitative data produced in-depth details about why individuals obey/ dissent, increasing internal validity in social psychology research

Can be used as an effective screening tool for participants e.g. Burger used the self-report Beck Depression Inventory to exclude participants at risk of psychological harm

Question 3

What are the 2 disadvantages of the use of questionnaires in social psychology overall?

Answer 3

Self-report data is subject to social desirability bias - Hawthorne Effect/ demand characteristics decreasing internal validity of respondent’s views about prejudice/obedience

Burger’s questionnaires did not allow participants to explore their thoughts about participating in obedience studies

Question 4

What are the 2 advantages of the use of interviews in social psychology overall?

Answer 4

Open questions produce in-depth details about why individuals obey/ dissent, increasing internal validity in social psychology research

Milgram conducted post-experiment interviews in his studies of obedience as sources of objective data on responsibility and free will, including questions like ‘Did you hear him hollering, how did you feel about that?

Question 5

What are the 2 disadvantages of the use of interviews in social psychology overall?

Answer 5

Researcher may need to decide on the important themes for prejudice and obedience if open questions are used - can be seen as subjective to researcher bias

Lack of reliability in unstructured interviews - no two participants will be asked the same questions about their views on prejudice/obedience by the researcher