From theory to intervention. Summary book chapters 1-6

Summary FTTI

APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

CHAPTER 1

Norm of reciprocity
 Individuals feel best when they receive something in return for what they give.

PATHS-model
1. Problem: identifying and defining the problem
2. Analysis: formulating appropriate concepts and developing theory-based
explanations
3. Test: developing and testing an explanatory process model
4. Help: developing and implementing a programme of interventions
5. Success: evaluating success

Problems with applying theories
Three of the most important limitations of research in social psychology

Oversimplification
 Situations in experiments are a reduction and simplification of reality
 Single experiment cannot examine the complex interplay of variables that affect
human social behavior in the real world.

One way to enable more accurate comparisons between the variables that are tested is to
look at effect sizes.
- These are statistical measurements of the magnitude of the relationship between
variables
- E.g., mimicry

External validity
 All kinds of factors in real life may obscure the impact of the variables that are so
clearly manipulated in experiments (e.g., also mimicry)
 Depends on the number of real-life situations that research findings can be applied to
 If this number is limited  external validity of experiment is low
 Practitioners should not uncritically trust a single study, but should also consider the
evidence underlying it

Contradictory evidence
 Findings like these may be confusing and difficult to interpret
 One should carefully examine the experimental paradigm on which a finding is based
before applying it to real world situations

,CHAPTER 2 – THE PROBLEM PHASE
From a problem to a problem definition

Towards a problem definition
 Clear and precise description of what the problem is, and why and for whom it is a
problem
 Identify target group
 Should give insight into some possible causes and key aspects of the problem
 Is it applied, concrete, social psychological, and solvable?
o It is better to state the problem at a concrete, behavioral level than as a
desired outcome of the behavior  e.g., obesity  eating healthier snacks
rather than inducing them to lose weight

Reformulating the problem
1. Global statements must be made more concrete in order to be useful for further
investigation
 Generic terms make it unclear what the problem is or where the problem leis
2. A more detailed problem analysis could reveal that the real problem is different form
the one that is stated (e.g., Why are Dutch so rude?  maybe journalist is too
sensitive)
3. Even if it is clear what the problem is, there is an array of different solutions that one
could think of for solving it
 these solutions may not always be psychological

The path from a problem to a problem definition
Not often along a short, straight path
 Good to be aware of preferences and tendencies of practitioners

Fundamental attribution error
 The tendency for perceivers to underestimate the impact of situational factors and to
overestimate the role of dispositional factors in controlling behavior
- Sometimes you want to persuade the client to adopt a different perspective if it is
helpful for resolving the problem

A good practitioner should always leave open the possibility of adjusting the problem
definition once he or she gets under way

Key questions for a problem definition

What is the problem?
- Requires insight into the cause and background of the problem
o Critical toward what client says and open-minded about what true causes
may be
- Perspective of the problem may differ between client and practitioner (other
perspective, different problem)
- Problems are often stated in terms that are too generic to be useful

, Why is it a problem?
- Why is the particular issue perceived as a problem in the first place?
o How does the problem express itself?
o What are the consequences of the problem?
o What makes it problematic?
o When did it first emerge?
 Might reveal important clues about the potential causes and
solutions of the problem

For whom is it a problem?
- Do all parties perceive the problem in the same way?
- Practitioner must consult with all the parties involved to agree on a version of the
problem that all can endorse

What are the possible causes of the problem?
- To build up a picture of the background and potential causes of the problem
- Get a first impression of the causal model and possible social psychological
processes involved (not be definite about the exact causes)
o What seems to cause this problem?
o How may these causes affect the problem?
- Distinguish immediate vs. distal causes

What is the target group?
- Who should be convinced of the problem?
- Whose cooperation is necessary for the problem to be solved.
- This narrows down the broad field of actors that may play a role in the problem

What are the key aspects of the problem?
1. Is it an applied problem?
- Many causes that are revealed by basic research do not easily lend themselves
for solutions
- Applied research deals with finding solutions for problems and therefore limits
itself to the study of those determinants that are malleable and may be the target
of an intervention
o Therefore, important that the ‘why’ question incorporates a question
about the way a problem could be solved
2. Is it a concrete problem?
- Operationalizing the behavior makes it easier to recognize and measure it
- One should be clear in the problem definition about the kind of specific behaviors
that one wants to tackle with the intervention
- To encourage this, practitioner is advised to step into shoes of a researcher
3. Is it a social psychological problem?
- Are there causes that are more important than the social psychological
determinants?
- What contribution can a social psychological perspective on the problem make?