PSYC 340- Applied Social Psychology- Athabasca U. Exam Questions With Correct Answers
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Course
PSYC 340
Institution
PSYC 340
PSYC 340- Applied Social Psychology-
Athabasca U. Exam Questions With Correct
Answers
*UNIT 1*
What challenges does the application of social psychology face? - answer*The ultimate goal is to
effect positive change and improve the functioning of people.*
Interventions developed by applied soc...
PSYC 340- Applied Social Psychology-
Athabasca U. Exam Questions With Correct
Answers
*UNIT 1*
What challenges does the application of social psychology face? - answer✔*The ultimate goal is to
effect positive change and improve the functioning of people.*
Interventions developed by applied social psychologists are value-laden in that the psychologists' values
play a role in determining what social and practical problems to address, including which people should
be targeted for change and what should constitute change. Thus, the goal of control through
intervention is sometimes controversial.
There is also the struggle that all psychology faces in regards to being recognized as actual science.
Social psychology is the study of how individuals think, feel and behave in a social context. Social
psychology seeks to understand how people influence and relate to one another.
Studying subjective topics like this is difficult.
What are the core values of social psychology as a science? - answer✔- *Accuracy*: precise, error-free
measurement and collection of data.
-*Objectivity*: minimization of bias in data collection and testing
-*Skepticism*: refusing to believe findings and conclusions without vigorous verification.
-*Open-mindedness*: readiness to accept as valid evidence, that which may be inconsistent with one's
initial, and perhaps strongly held, beliefs or theories.
-*Ethics*: acceptance of the absolute importance of ethical behaviour in conducting research
A core assumption of social psych is the *behaviour of individuals is strongly influenced by the social
context*
Describe the scientific process. - answer✔A scientist makes an observation and asks questions of some
phenomenon. A hypothesis is made that tries to explain the question. The hypothesis generates
predictions, or specific statements that can be directly tested, and then the test results either support or
reject the hypothesis.
*Description*: entails identifying and reporting the details and nature of a phenomenon-often
distinguishing between types of phenomenon and recording its frequency. Achieving accurate
descriptions of phenomena is one aspect of understanding (operational definitions).
*Prediction*: knowing which factors are systemically related (correlated).
*Determining Causality*: Changes in one factor produces changes in the other factor. Correlation does
not mean causation.
*Explanation*: Entails establishing why a phenomenon or relationship occurs.
Approaches to Applied Social Psychology - answer✔*Social Cognition Approach*: Traditional approach.
Researcher is there just to report results in a manner that is impartial, neutral, objective. POSITIVISM-
researcher is separate from what is being observed-emphasizes reduction of bias.
*Engaged Research Approach* : Researcher is an active agent, engaging with community groups and
others to address issues that can serve as social change. ADVOCACY/ PARTICIPATION
* Critical Approach*: Emphasizes power and liberation from oppression. Focuses on how the
distribution of power shapes the way people construct their experiences. End OPPRESSION- Goal to
create EGALITARIAN SOCIETY.
Describe current understanding of social influences on behaviour, and discuss pivotal research in this
area. - answer✔*Intergroup Attitude*: refers to a person's overall evaluation of members of a group to
which the person does not belong.
One approach that social psychologists have taken in the study of the formation of intergroup attitudes
is to examine the role of various agents of socialization. Example: children tend to take on the attitudes
of important people around them (parents, siblings, peers, teachers). These people influence the basic
development of attitudes through the basic principles of learning, such as instrumental conditioning,
classical conditioning and observation/imitation.
Ex: White children who observed a white adult non-verbally convey uneasiness toward a black person,
subsequently expressed more negative attitudes toward black targets.
Another influential factor is the *media*.
Ex: news reports about terrorism linked to increased prejudice toward Arabs.
*In-group/out-group bias*: In-group members tend to evaluate and relate to the in-group favourably
and to the out-group less favourably.
Ex: Summer camp boys.
One reason is that we often conform to the norms of a group to gain acceptance of its members
Group conformity can also encourage cooperation when attempting to achieve a shared goal
However, cooperation can lead to the conformity of views, resulting in a phenomenon known as
groupthink.
Additionally, group conformity enables a sense of cohesion within a society.
What is the relevance of Bronfenbrenner's and Belsky's nested ecological theory for applied social
psychology? - answer✔Bronfenbrenner and Belsky described a theoretical framework that could be
used to explain any form of problem behaviour. Instead of adopting a simplistic one-cause analysis, they
proposed what is termed a nested ecological theory, one that examines interactions from four different
levels of generality.
The four levels that Belsky (1980, p. 321) proposed are
*macrosystem*, which encompasses the broadest cultural values and beliefs that influence social
behaviour (e.g., the Western cultural values of individualism or independence);
*exosystem*, which refers to the social structures, both formal and informal, that connect the family to
the broader culture (e.g., the workplace or educational setting);
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