Critical Social Psychology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary focus of critical social psychology as opposed to traditional social psychology?

Seeking understanding and insight (correct)

Establishing cause and effect relationships

Measuring variables for precise control

Claiming objectivity in research

Which of the following best describes the ethnographic approach?

Embedding oneself within a community for in-depth understanding (correct)

Organizing group discussions to stimulate conversation

Conducting one-on-one interviews to gather personal insights

Utilizing statistical analysis to quantify social behaviors

Which method involves participants documenting parts of their lives, potentially influenced by specific intervals or events?

Focus Groups

Document Analysis

Diaries (correct)

Interviews

What is a characteristic common to all data collection methods discussed in the context of critical social psychology?

They involve engaging with participants' narratives Signup and view all the answers

What is a common assumption challenged by social constructionism in psychology?

Individuals can have objective access to reality Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an assumption of individual differences?

Individual differences can be quantified and measured. Signup and view all the answers

What does the lexical hypothesis posited by Sir Francis Galton suggest?

Human personality can be derived from analyzing language. Signup and view all the answers

According to research, how does personality stability change after the age of 30?

There is little change in personality traits. Signup and view all the answers

Kurt Lewin's formula for behavior emphasizes the interaction of which two factors?

Personality and environment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an assumption of social psychology?

Social influences do not impact individual behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What limitations are noted in the consistency of behavior across situations?

Consistency varies greatly depending on the trait. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these concepts relates specifically to the subjective interpretation of behavior?

Interpersonal effects. Signup and view all the answers

What did McCrae & Costa (1990) conclude regarding personality traits and aging?

There is minimal change in personality traits after a certain age. Signup and view all the answers

What role does factor analysis play in identifying personality traits?

It helps in identifying stable traits from linguistic data. Signup and view all the answers

Which assumption regarding self-report data suggests its reliability?

People generally know their behaviors and can report them accurately. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of using observation as a method in differential psychology?

It is less influenced by personal biases compared to self-reports. Signup and view all the answers

Which method allows for the evaluation of traits through structured questions?

Self-reporting Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is associated with direct observation as a method?

It is typically time-intensive and expensive to conduct. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of differential psychology, what is one key challenge presented by objective measures?

They can lack clarity in assessing the intended criteria. Signup and view all the answers

Which research approach allows the manipulation of variables to examine behavioral outcomes?

Experimentation Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant drawback of using interviews in differential psychology research?

Interviews can be structured in a way that biases responses. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the methods used in differential psychology?

All methods are equally effective for all traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the concept of 'tool efficacy' in psychological measurement?

Psychological tools can accurately measure intrapersonal factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding implicit assumptions in differential psychology is false?

Intrapersonal factors are irrelevant to social behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of longitudinal studies in research?

Analyzing trends over a long period of time Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of assessing quality in quantitative research?

Complexity Signup and view all the answers

In the context of qualitative psychology, what does the term 'Critical Social Psychology' imply?

A focus on the influence of social forces on behavior Signup and view all the answers

When measuring construct validity in research, what is being assessed?

The predictiveness of the measure for outcomes Signup and view all the answers

How does meta-analysis contribute to research?

It synthesizes results from various studies to draw broader conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the approach of American psychology, as described in the content?

An individualistic culture influenced by societal elements. Signup and view all the answers

What does internal consistency in reliability refer to?

The uniformity of responses across items in the same measure. Signup and view all the answers

The split between European and American approaches to psychology primarily revolves around what key difference?

The focus on individual versus collective influences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines reliability in quantitative research?

The ability to yield consistent results across different contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the 'turn back to language' in qualitative psychology?

A recognition of the importance of language in understanding human experience. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of a successful essay as per the guidelines?

Synthesizing relevant literature Signup and view all the answers

What does Social Psychology primarily focus on?

Social and cognitive processes in interpersonal relations Signup and view all the answers

Which example is NOT considered a topic within Social Psychology?

Neuroscientific mechanisms of memory Signup and view all the answers

What does critical social psychology focus on?

Challenging mainstream social psychology through socio-political contexts Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the goal of workshops mentioned?

To support students in assessment preparations Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary influences on Social Psychology studies?

Current societal issues such as Nazism Signup and view all the answers

What should a well-structured essay include in its introduction and conclusion?

Clear articulation of the argument and stance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

This module covers social psychology and research methods in individual differences.
The module aims to explore traditional social psychology, critical social psychology, and individual differences.
Students will be encouraged to question the distinction between individual and social factors.
Students will develop a stronger academic voice and take a stance on debates in Social Psychology and Individual Differences.

Aims of Module

Course Overview
Social psychology and individual differences
Research methods and individual differences

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate knowledge of historical and conceptual debates within social psychology and individual differences.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of research methods and techniques used to study the person in social psychology and individual differences.
Students will understand and critically evaluate the empirical evidence underpinning selected theories relating to social psychology and individual differences.
Students will demonstrate skills in searching for and evaluating scientific evidence related to social psychology and individual differences.
Students will develop cogent arguments about topics in social psychology and individual differences using appropriate empirical evidence.

Module Structure

Pre-live session activity
Live lecture
Live seminar
Essential reading
Canvas discussion board

Module at a Glance

A schedule of topics, lectures, and seminars.

Assessment

Lifespan Psychology B is assessed via a 1000-word in-course assessment.
This module is a 10-credit module, synoptically assessed along with Lifespan Psychology A (Introduction to Developmental Psychology).
Two 1000-word essays (50% each) are to be completed

Essay Title

"What matters most when explaining human behaviour: social or individual factors?"
This essay requires students to select a topic from the module, examine social and individual factors, and come to a conclusion about their relative importance.
Students need to use academic literature and critically evaluate it.
Workshops are designed to support this assessment.

What made a good essay last year?

Clear argument and stance consistently presented.
Critically evaluated evidence from literature.
Synthesized rather than listed sources.
Concepts that spanned the entire module.
Logical and structured around key themes.
Clear introductions and conclusions.

Discussion Board

This module uses a Padlet discussion board for questions.
Emails will not be responded to, as the teaching team will monitor the discussion board.

The scientific study of social and cognitive processes.

Experimental/Traditional Social Psychology: Social influence, prosocial behaviour, aggression, prejudice and discrimination
Critical Social Psychology: Cultural Psychology, focusing on the socio-political contexts of behaviour and attitudes

The construction of reality: is there one universal reality, or are there multiple and competing realities?
Pervasiveness of social influence: Other people affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Experimental and Critical Social Psychology (Stainton-Rogers, 2011)

Two approaches to the study of social psychology.

Experimental Social Psychology: People as products of innate instincts, moulded by forces, lacking free will.
Critical Social Psychology: People as intentional actors within their social world, with the capacity for free will.

Introducing Individual Differences

Aims to explain observable differences in individuals in terms of underlying psychological differences.
- How and why people differ in thinking and feeling.
- How these differences affect behaviour.
- Taxonomies of individual differences (e.g. Big Five, MBTI)

Example Topics in Individual Differences

Personality, intelligence, emotional intelligence, attitudes, cognitive abilities.
Real-world applications such as ageing, wellbeing, and health

Assumptions of Individual Differences

Differences vary consistently across situations and time.
Individual differences can be measured and assessed.
People can be categorized based on personality and intelligence.
Individual differences inform and predict behaviour and performance

Consistency and Stability

Consistency across time and situations.
Relatively stable personality traits after age 30
Limited consistency in many traits, across situations.

Focus on objectivity and measurement.

Focus on Objectivity and Measurement (1786, 1864)

Kant argued psychology couldn't be quantified.
Wundt started scientific examinations focusing on perception.
Control is important for experiments. First theorists:
- Sir Francis Galton: lexical hypothesis, identifying stable traits.
- Kurt Lewin: Behavior = personality x environment

Describing the assumptions Explicit and Implicit

Social Psychology: Interpersonal Effects, Broad Impact of Social Factors, Framework Development.
Differential Psychology: Understanding Intrapersonal Factors, Prediction and Description, Introspection and Verification.
Implicit Assumptions: Tool Efficacy and Unified Theory.

Data Sources: (Self-Reports, Observations, Direct Observations, Objective Measures, Interviews, Experimentation)

Describing methods for collecting and analyzing data.

Data Collection: Timing (Cross-sectional, Longitudinal, Experimental)

Explain the different types of data collection

Assessing quality in quantitative research (Reliability, Validity, Generalizability)

Measures of reliability, validity, and generalizability

Roots of Qualitative Psychology (The turn back to language)

Split in approaches, philosophy, and the role between person and society.
Re-connection with Europe: critical of quantitative and experimental methods.
Branching into Critical Social Psychology: Qualitative methods, critique of taken-for-granted knowledge

Focus on understanding, insight, and interpretation rather than just cause and effect.
No claim to objectivity, representativeness, realism, or control.
Focus on exploring talk, appropriate questions, rigorous and ethical data collection.

Data Sources in Qualitative Research (Ethnography, Interviews, Focus Groups, Diaries, Documents, Internet, Story Completion)

Description of different qualitative research methods

Quantitative analysis alone isn’t sufficient; qual analysis aims to analyze patterns of meaning.
Interpretative insights vary based on the specific analytic technique used.

Assessing quality in Qualitative Research (Sensitivity, Commitment & Rigour, Transparency, Impact)

Criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research, including sensitivity, commitment, rigour, transparency, and impact.

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Description

Test your knowledge on critical social psychology and its differentiations from traditional approaches. This quiz covers various methods, assumptions, and theories foundational to understanding social behavior. Challenge yourself with questions on ethnographic approaches and the stability of personality through the years.