Experimental Social Psychology

Normal Shaped Distribution

Bell-shaped One peak in the middle (unimodal) Symmetrical on each side Reflect many naturally occurring variables

convergent validity

Is the measure associated with other established measures of the same construct

predictive validity

Is the measure associated with variables it should theoretically predict

erosion variables

Popularity of magazine (wear)

deception

Misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire

accretion variables

Spending or diet (trash, recycling

Graphs for numerical data

Stem & leaf displays Histograms Frequency polygons

nominal scales

categorical scales, men/ women, right/left

behavioroid measure

measures of intention or future commitment

Describe behavior (research approach)

naturalistic observation, surveys, case studies

Milgrams study

normative social influence- don't want to disappoint the experimenter

science (path to knowledge)

objectivity, control, empirical basis, replication

ratio scale

scores separated by equal intervals and there is an absolute zero

applied research

solves a specific social problem

Inductive Reasoning

starts with a question then moves to general conclusion based on probability (bottom-up logic)

Deductive Reasoning

starts with conclusion (theory based) and then gives facts to support it. (top down logic)

expectancy effects- Rosenthal and Jacobson 1966

students iQ tested- intellectual bloomers (self-fulfilling prophecy)

yea-sayers

super agreeable

ear

(Electronically activated recorder) - sampling of natural speech/conversations

experimenter bias

- Unintentionally treat participants differently - Experimenters record the behaviors differently

threats to validity

1) people are different, 2)people change 3)process of studying people changes them 4)variables with treatment change people

suppress prejudice

1. Sincere motivation to become less prejudiced 2. Avoid being labeled a sexist, racist, etc.

True experiments (experimental method)

1. The IV is what researchers manipulate to see if it has a causal effect 2. The DV is what researchers measure to see if it is affected 3.Experiments must have treatment and control condition

dependent variable

A measurement of behavior -- also a measure of the size of the effect of the IV (the cause of behavior change).

Theory

A partially verified statement of a scientific relationship that cannot be directly observed (Martin, 1991)

correlational coefficient

A statistical technique that assesses how well you can predict one variable from another (Correlation coefficients range from -1.00 to +1.00)

control variables

A variable whose values remain the same across levels of the IV (e.g., room temp, light levels, time- of-day, etc).

Constructs

Abstract concepts that link the IV and DV (hunger and thirst effecting the rate of pressing a bar)

physiological

BP, HR, GSR

concurrent validity

Does the measure differ between groups it ought to differ between

instrumentation (threat to internal validity)

Did the measurement method change

testing (threat to internal validity)

Did the pre-test affect the scores on the post-test

face validity

Does the measure appear to measure the construct of interest

2. history, maturation, statistical regression

Events occurring between first and second measurements but not part of the manipulation

random assignment

Goal is to ensure all participants have equal chance of being in any experimental condition

Construct validity

How well an operational definition represents the construct of interest (face validity, predictive, concurrent, convergent, discriminant)

field experimental research design

IV manipulated Participants unaware...pro ecological validity, con, not replicable most of the time

Schachter and singer 1962

IV. evironmental cues (2 groups, euphoric and angry) DV participants mood too confederate results Epinephrine-informed group Did not become angry when exposed to angry stooge - Had alternate explanation for their arousal (the drug) - Epinephrine-ignorant group Became euphoric - Joined stooge in playing games

discriminant validity

Is the measure NOT associated with measures of other constructs

negative correlation

Increases in the value of one variable are associated with decreases in the value of the other variable

positive correlation

Increases in the value of one variable are associated with increases in the value of the other variable

skewed distibution

One side is more spread out that the other, like a tail - Direction of the skew Positive or negative (right or left) Side with the fewer scores Side that looks like a tail

quasi experimental research design

Planned IV is a subject characteristic, pro- assign treatment and comparison group, con, no random assignment

psychological realism

Psychological processes triggered by experiments are similar to psychological processes in real life (e.g., fear, anger)

3. testing effects, mortality, participant reaction bias

Research participants realize they are being studied and behave in a way they normally would not

Observational method

Researcher observes people and systematically records behavior. (archival analysis, ethnography)

impact studies

The IV represents something significant and involving for the participant - active role

mundane realism

The extent to which an experiment is similar to real-life situations

internal validity

The extent to which the observed effect is caused only by the experimental treatment condition

external validity

The extent to which the results can be applied to and across different persons, settings and times

Interjudge reliability

The level of agreement between two or more people who independently observe and code a set of data.

Independent variable

The presumed "cause" of a behavioral effect or change in the DV.t

Bimodal Distribution

Two clear peaks Symmetrical on each side Often indicates two distinct subgroups in sample

Correlational method

Two or more variables are systematically measured and the relation between them is assessed.

unobtrusive measures

Unknown behavioral observations allow measuring what Ps do/leave behind

Natural experimental research design

Unplanned No manipulation of IV Participants unaware.. pro ecological validity, con, not replicable most of the time

halo effect

carry over like and dislike from experimenter

Stanley Schachter 1964

We infer our emotions by observing our behavior in a two-step self-perception process: 1. Experience physiological arousal. 2. Seek an appropriate explanation for it.

ordinal scales

allow us to rank order the levels of the variables being studied

subject variables

anything that can't be controlled that could influence behavior (age, IQ)

symmetrical distribution

approx. equal numbers of observations above and below the middle

implicit biases

biases hidden from oneself

Latane and Darley

bystander effect with seizure deception

parameter

characteristic of a population

statistic

characteristic of a sample

1. selection bias

choosing participants from a non-representitve sample

Basic Research

conducted to answer questions arising from curiosity, to advance understanding of a phenomenon

systematic error

consistent bias, equipment is not calibrated

predict behavior (research approach)

correlational methods

design contamination (threat to internal validity)

did the control group find out about the experimental treatment? did either group have a reason to want to make the research succeed or fail

scientific method

designed to eliminate human mistakes with thinking (based on empirical observation)

history (threat to internal validity)

did something else effect change in the dv

statistical regression (threat to internal validity)

did subjects come from low or high performing groups

mortality (threat to internal validity)

did subjects drop out & affect results

sampling error

discrepancy between sample statistic and corresponding population parameter

validity

does the measure adequately reflect the construct of interest, to be valid it must be reliable

inferential statistics

drawing inferences based on data. using statistics to draw conclusions about the population from which the sample was taken

Science in scientific method

empirical observation must be systematic, not haphazard, selective confirmatory. *Unbiased way of selecting one belief over another

explain behavior (research approach)

experimental methods, lab and some field-based

nonverbal

facial expressions, tone, eye contact

mediator

go between mechanism (stress and depression- mediator is rumination)

Social Psychology

how real, or imagined others influence people in terms of Affect, Behavior,and Cognitions

moderator

influences strength of relationship enhancer (stress and depression- social support)

passive deception

info withheld, such as how assignment to conditions is made

factorial design

interaction effect;differences on one factor depend on the level you are on another factor

internal analysis

is independent variable working

reliability

is the measure consistent

social desirability

over represent favorable characteristic and underrepresent unfavorable ones

active deception

participants intentionally misinformed such as in Milgram study

lab (true experiment) experimental research design

planned, controlled DV and IV... pro, high reliability and validity, replicable, con demand sabotage

experimental method

randomly assigns participants to different conditions, conditions are identical expect for the independent variable.

interviews

rich data, time consuming

generalization

taking findings from the lab into real-world contexts.

Descriptive statistics

techniques for describing data in abbreviated, symbolic fashion (tables/graphs) central tendency

interval scales

the difference between the numbers on the scale is meaningful

random error

the noise introduced (room temp)

verbal protocols

think out loud - verbal report of mental processes, not usually used

maturation (threat to internal validity)

were changes in DV due to normal developmental processes

selection (threat to internal validity)

were the subjects self-selected into experimental and control groups, which could affect the DV

1. non-response bias

when a substantial portion of those invited to participate in your study refuse to respond