The History And Scope Of Social

Psychology ,Research Methods In

Social Psychology ,Ethics In Social
Psychological Research

BY- Astha Srivastava

Introduction to Social Psychology

Social psychology studies how

individuals influence and are
influenced by others.

It encompasses various topics such as

attitudes, group dynamics, and
interpersonal relationships.

The field combines elements of

psychology and sociology to
understand social behavior.
Early Foundations of Social Psychology

The origins of social psychology can

be traced back to the late 19th and
early 20th centuries.

Key figures like William James and

Norman Triplett began exploring social
influences on behavior.

These early studies laid the

groundwork for future research and
theoretical development.
 Scope Of Social Psychology
• Interpersonal Relationships:
This covers attraction, love, jealousy, friendship, and group dynamics. Understanding how
and
why relationships form and the factors that contribute to their maintenance or dissolution is
central
to this domain.
• Attitude Formation and Change: How do individuals form opinions and attitudes? What
methods can effectively change them? This scope includes the study of persuasion,
propaganda, and cognitive dissonance.
• Social Cognition: This examines how people process, store, and apply information about
others. Areas include social perception, heuristics, stereotypes, and attribution theories.
• Group Dynamics: This entails studying group behavior, intergroup relations, group
decision-making processes, leadership, and more. Concepts like groupthink and group
polarization emerge from this area.
• Prejudice and Discrimination: Understanding the roots of bias, racism, sexism, and other
forms of prejudice, as well as exploring interventions to reduce them, is a significant focus.
• Self and Identity: Investigating self-concept, self-esteem, self-presentation, and the social
construction of identity are all part of this realm.
• Prosocial Behavior and Altruism: Why do individuals sometimes help others, even at a
• Education:
Principles of social psychology enhance teaching methods, address
issues of classroom
dynamics, and promote effective learning .

• Media and Technology: In the digital age, understanding the

effects of media consumption, the dynamics of online
communication, and the formation of online communities is
increasingly relevant.

• Health: Concepts from social psychology are employed to promote

health behaviors, understand doctor-patient dynamics, and tackle
issues like addiction.
The Emergence of Social Psychology as a
Discipline

Social psychology became more established during the 1920s

and 1930s.

Kurt Lewin's field theory emphasized the importance of

context in social behavior.

This period saw the formation of professional organizations

and scholarly publications.
Key Theories in Social Psychology

Several foundational theories

emerged, including social learning
theory and cognitive dissonance.

These theories provide frameworks for

understanding how people acquire
and change attitudes.

They also explain the psychological

mechanisms behind social
interactions.
Noman Triplett Social Facilitation Theory

Norman Triplett conducted the first social psychology

experiment in 1898, studying how the presence of
others affects performance. He observed that cyclists
raced faster when competing with others than alone
and confirmed this in a lab experiment with children
winding fishing reels. His work introduced the
concept of social facilitation and laid the foundation
for studying social influence on behavior.
Leon Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance
Theory
Leon Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory suggests that people feel
psychological discomfort when they hold conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or
behaviors. This discomfort motivates them to reduce the inconsistency by
either changing their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, or justifying them in
some way. For example, if someone values health but smokes, they may
either quit smoking or convince themselves smoking isn’t that harmful to
resolve the conflict. The theory explains how people strive for internal
consistency and how they make decisions to maintain a sense of
harmony.
Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory

Kurt Lewin's social psychology theory emphasizes that behaviour is

shaped by the interaction between individuals and their environment,
known as the "life space." He introduced Field Theory, which suggests
that behavior is influenced by forces within the individual and their
surroundings. Lewin also explored Group Dynamics, showing how group
norms, roles, and leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, laissez-
faire) impact individual behavior. His Change Theory outlines a three-step
process for change: Unfreezing (recognizing the need for change),
Changing (implementing new behaviors), and Refreezing (stabilizing new
behaviors). Additionally, his Action Research approach combines theory
with practical interventions to address social issues and promote change.
Bandura (1963) Social Learning Theory.

Bandura introduced the notion that behavior in the

social world could be modeled. Three groups of children
watched a video where an adult was aggressive towards
a ‘bobo doll,’ and the adult was either just seen to be
doing this, was rewarded by another adult for their
behavior, or was punished for it. Children who had seen
the adult rewarded were found to be more likely to copy
such behavior.
Weiner (1986) – Attribution Theory

Weiner was interested in the attributions made for

experiences of success and failure and introduced the
idea that we look for explanations of behavior in the
social world.He believed that these were made based
on three areas: locus, which could be internal or
external; stability, which is whether the cause is
stable or changes over time: and controllability.
Research Methods in Social Psychology

Social psychologists employ various

research methods to study social
phenomena.

Common methods include

experiments, surveys, observational
studies, and case studies.

Each method has its strengths and

weaknesses, influencing the outcomes
of research.
Experimental Methods

Experiments allow researchers to

establish cause-and-effect
relationships.

They typically involve manipulation of

independent variables and controlled
environments.

Famous experiments, such as the

Milgram study, demonstrate the
power of situational factors.
Correalational Method

Here, Surveys are useful for gathering

data on attitudes, beliefs, and
behaviors from large populations.

They can be conducted through

questionnaires or interviews, both
online and offline.

However, surveys may be subject to

biases, such as self-reporting and
sampling errors.
Observational Studies

Observational methods involve

watching and recording behavior in
natural settings.

This approach provides rich

qualitative data that can reveal social
dynamics.

However, it may lack the control and

replicability of experimental designs.
Ethical Considerations in Social Psychology
• Informed consent
Participants must be fully informed about the study's
purpose,
procedures, risks, and benefits. They must be able to
give their consent
voluntarily and rationally.

• Deception
Deception is generally not allowed, but may be used
minimally in
certain cases. For example, in the 1961 Milgram
obedience
experiment, participants were deceived into thinking
they were
• Right to withdraw
Participants should be able to leave the study at any time without
penalty.

• Protection from harm

Researchers should ensure that participants are not harmed
physically or
psychologically.

• Confidentiality
Participants should remain anonymous, and researchers should
not disclose information about them unless required by law.
Historical Ethical Issues

Historical studies, such as the

Stanford prison experiment, raised
significant ethical concerns.

These studies highlighted the

potential for psychological harm and
the need for ethical oversight.

Such incidents prompted the

establishment of stricter ethical
guidelines in research.
The Role of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRBs are responsible for

reviewing research proposals
to ensure ethical standards
are met.

They assess potential risks

and benefits to participants
before research can
commence.

The presence of IRBs has

significantly improved ethical
practices in social psychology.
Current Ethical Guidelines

The American Psychological

Association (APA) provides
comprehensive ethical guidelines for
research.

These guidelines emphasize respect,

integrity, and responsibility in
conducting research.

Adhering to these standards is

essential for maintaining the
credibility of the discipline.
The Future of Social Psychology Research

Social psychology continues to evolve

with advancements in technology and
methodology.

New tools, such as online surveys and

neuroimaging, are expanding research
capabilities.

Future research will likely address

complex social issues, such as
diversity and technology's impact.
The Global Perspective in Social Psychology

Social psychology research is

increasingly considering cultural and
global perspectives.

Understanding social behavior in

diverse contexts enriches the field's
relevance.

Cross-cultural studies can reveal how

social phenomena vary across
different societies.
Conclusion

The history of social psychology

reflects a dynamic interplay between
research methods and ethics.

Ongoing developments in the field

promise to enhance our
understanding of social behavior.

Commitment to ethical research

practices will ensure the continued
growth of the discipline.