"CLASSIC" SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY EXPERIMENT

Asch's Conformity study

Theory: (integrated set principles that explain/predict observed events) assessing whether group pressure causes conformity
Hypothesis: (testable proposition that describes a relationship between 2 events/variables) If this theory is correct then it can be shown that, an individual will go along with the group despite the oddity of the behavior.
Method:

Experimenter measured: degree of conformity

ie., whether subject went along with group vs. giving obviously correct answer

Results: almost 40% conformed!!

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EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

Step 1: Theory

Does Disgrace cause an increase in admiration?

Step 2: Clarify variables

Independent variable	Dependent variable

Step 3: Hypothesis via "Operational definition" of variables

Step 4:

Random Assignment (next oh)

equal chance of being assigned to either level of the IV
reduces chances of confounding

Step 5:

Experimenter Manipulates IV to occur in 2 conditions:

Experimental Condition

Control Condition

Step 4 + Step 5 is the Key to making "causal conclusions"

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RANDOM ASSIGNMENT

Question: Does studying lead to good grades?

Non-random assignment:

GROUP 1: STUDYING

IQ IQ IQ IQ

IQ IQ IQ IQ ------------> As

GROUP 2: NO STUDYING

iq iq iq iq

iq iq iq iq ------------> Fs

Random assignment:

GROUP 1: STUDYING

iq iq iq iq -------------> As

IQ IQ IQ IQ

GROUP 2: NO STUDYING

iq iq iq iq -------------> Fs

IQ IQ IQ IQ

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ETHICS IN EXPERIMENTATION

Balancing act between:

Mundane Realism	Experimental Realism
-is the experiment realistic ?	Does the experiment absorb its participants?

Demand characteristics:Cues that give away the

purpose of the experiment

Balancing act requires INFORMED CONSENT

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CRITICAL TOOLS

-operational definitions

-mundane realism

-experimental realism

-demand characteristics

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Correlational Methods

Step 1:Theory:

Is there a relationship between disgrace and admiration?

Step 2: Clarify Variables

Step 3: Hypothesis via Operational definition of variables

Step 4:

Random sampling for representative sample

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WHAT IS CORRELATION?

Correlation	Causation
x,y	x ->y

Why? X, Y could be related for three reasons:

1. X -> Y

2. Y -> X

3. Z

X Y

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Understanding correlation:

direction: positive or negative
strength: small, moderate, large

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Critical Tools

-correlation vs. causation

-Does the questionnaire adequately operationally define variables?

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Research Proposals

Step 1. Choose a study

Step 2. Think about it-what's wrong with it?

Step 3. Drafts-APA style

a. Title page

b. Abstract

c. Introduction-introduce your topic area in a clever way

- introduce the study, its purpose, and whatever about it that you will be criticizing ("Lit review")

-- criticize with resolutions

-end with hypothesis for your study

d. Methodology (APA format)

Participants

Procedure

Materials