PSYC 241 FINAL EXAM REVIEW
Comprehensive Questions with
Verified Answers Graded A+
Defining Social Psychology - Answer: - The discipline that seeks to understand how the thoughts,
feelings and behaviours of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied
presence of others
- The scientific study of the way individuals think, feel and behave in social situation
- Theme: we are affected by our social surroundings, seeks to explain why individuals behave
the way they do in social contexts
Bubba Psychology - Answer: - Common sense/intuition is sometimes: wrong, contradictory, too
simple
- Common sense is more evident in hindsight
Theory - Answer: - An organized set of principles used to explain observed phenomena
- Good theories: simple, concrete, can account for all the data, consistent, generative, testable
Why are Theories Useful? - Answer: - Organizes past research
- Directs future inquiry
- Explains why things happen
- Understanding a phenomenon enhances application
,Hypotheses - Answer: - An "educated guess" about the nature of the relationship among the
variables being tested
- Guided by the theory being tested
Non-Experimental Approaches - Answer: - Archival study
- Case study
- Survey study
- Observational study
- Non-experimental study
Archival Study - Answer: Examining existing records of past events and try to draw associations
between variables
Case Study - Answer: A detailed examination of single event or person, can be more common in
different types of psychology
Survey Study - Answer: Participants complete questionnaires, look at associations among
different independent variables or relationships among different questionnaires
Observational Study - Answer: Participants behaviours are observed, often in a naturalistic
setting
Non-Experimental Study - Answer: Scientists seek to establish a relationship between two or
more variables by observing outcomes and correlating them with other outcomes
Findings of Non-Experimental Research - Answer: - Whether there is an association between
variables
- Correlation coefficient (r): statistic that tells magnitude and direction of relationship between
two variables
,- Do not imply a causal relationship: reverse causality, spuriousness
Features of Experiments - Answer: - Independent variable is manipulated and the dependent
variable is measured
- Participants are randomly assigned to group
Internal Validity - Answer: - Extent to which difference between groups in an experiment can be
unambiguously attributed to the independent variable, rather than to other factors
- High internal validity is achieved through good study design
External Validity - Answer: - The degree to which one can generalize results obtained in one set
of circumstances to another set of circumstances
- Influenced by: type of sample (representative or convenience), research setting (lab or natural)
Research Ethics - Answer: - All studies must receive clearance from REB
- Comply with: protection from harm, informed consent, permission to withdrawn privacy,
debriefing (rationale for deception)
Factors Shaping Our Sense of Self - Answer: - Parenting styles and family
- Peers/friends/social groups
- Culture
- Past experiences
- Genetic dispositions
- Social roles
- Memories
- future
, Self-Concept is Social - Answer: - Our beliefs and feelings about ourselves influence the way we
perceive, judge and behave toward others
Individual Self - Answer: What sets us apart from others
Relational Self - Answer: - Our beliefs about our identities in relationships that are relative to
other people - How we see ourselves in our relationships
Collective Self - Answer: Our identity as members of social groups we are members of
Possible Selves - Answer: - Our concept of what we might like to be in the future
- Desired and feared possible selves
- Motivate us, help us work toward a goal
Self-Discrepancy Theory - Answer: - The actual, ideal and ought self
- We are sensitive to contradictions among these different representations
- Feel emotional discomfort
Independent Culture - Answer: - Individualistic
- Value individuality, autonomy and self-reliance
Interdependent Culture - Answer: - Collectivistic
- Value fitting in, cooperation and social harmony
Influence of Cultural Distinctions - Answer: - Sense of self
- Sense of self-esteem
- Social cognition: the way we view and interpret the world around us
Comprehensive Questions with
Verified Answers Graded A+
Defining Social Psychology - Answer: - The discipline that seeks to understand how the thoughts,
feelings and behaviours of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied
presence of others
- The scientific study of the way individuals think, feel and behave in social situation
- Theme: we are affected by our social surroundings, seeks to explain why individuals behave
the way they do in social contexts
Bubba Psychology - Answer: - Common sense/intuition is sometimes: wrong, contradictory, too
simple
- Common sense is more evident in hindsight
Theory - Answer: - An organized set of principles used to explain observed phenomena
- Good theories: simple, concrete, can account for all the data, consistent, generative, testable
Why are Theories Useful? - Answer: - Organizes past research
- Directs future inquiry
- Explains why things happen
- Understanding a phenomenon enhances application
,Hypotheses - Answer: - An "educated guess" about the nature of the relationship among the
variables being tested
- Guided by the theory being tested
Non-Experimental Approaches - Answer: - Archival study
- Case study
- Survey study
- Observational study
- Non-experimental study
Archival Study - Answer: Examining existing records of past events and try to draw associations
between variables
Case Study - Answer: A detailed examination of single event or person, can be more common in
different types of psychology
Survey Study - Answer: Participants complete questionnaires, look at associations among
different independent variables or relationships among different questionnaires
Observational Study - Answer: Participants behaviours are observed, often in a naturalistic
setting
Non-Experimental Study - Answer: Scientists seek to establish a relationship between two or
more variables by observing outcomes and correlating them with other outcomes
Findings of Non-Experimental Research - Answer: - Whether there is an association between
variables
- Correlation coefficient (r): statistic that tells magnitude and direction of relationship between
two variables
,- Do not imply a causal relationship: reverse causality, spuriousness
Features of Experiments - Answer: - Independent variable is manipulated and the dependent
variable is measured
- Participants are randomly assigned to group
Internal Validity - Answer: - Extent to which difference between groups in an experiment can be
unambiguously attributed to the independent variable, rather than to other factors
- High internal validity is achieved through good study design
External Validity - Answer: - The degree to which one can generalize results obtained in one set
of circumstances to another set of circumstances
- Influenced by: type of sample (representative or convenience), research setting (lab or natural)
Research Ethics - Answer: - All studies must receive clearance from REB
- Comply with: protection from harm, informed consent, permission to withdrawn privacy,
debriefing (rationale for deception)
Factors Shaping Our Sense of Self - Answer: - Parenting styles and family
- Peers/friends/social groups
- Culture
- Past experiences
- Genetic dispositions
- Social roles
- Memories
- future
, Self-Concept is Social - Answer: - Our beliefs and feelings about ourselves influence the way we
perceive, judge and behave toward others
Individual Self - Answer: What sets us apart from others
Relational Self - Answer: - Our beliefs about our identities in relationships that are relative to
other people - How we see ourselves in our relationships
Collective Self - Answer: Our identity as members of social groups we are members of
Possible Selves - Answer: - Our concept of what we might like to be in the future
- Desired and feared possible selves
- Motivate us, help us work toward a goal
Self-Discrepancy Theory - Answer: - The actual, ideal and ought self
- We are sensitive to contradictions among these different representations
- Feel emotional discomfort
Independent Culture - Answer: - Individualistic
- Value individuality, autonomy and self-reliance
Interdependent Culture - Answer: - Collectivistic
- Value fitting in, cooperation and social harmony
Influence of Cultural Distinctions - Answer: - Sense of self
- Sense of self-esteem
- Social cognition: the way we view and interpret the world around us
