Critically discuss the main research methods that are used in Social Psychological studies.
The purpose of this essay is to review the literature investigating key research methods that are used in Social Psychology, while providing an overview of the respective method’s strengths and weaknesses. The essay will also seek to review any ethical considerations which should be taken into account when pursuing a particular research route within social psychology.
Social psychology employs the scientific method of research to study behavior and as such has been defined as:
‘The scientific investigation of how the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.’ (Hogg and Vaughan, 2011, p.8).
When a researcher is investigating a particular field of study they have several options available to them, surveys can be completed, their own intuition implemented, questionnaires developed or observations made, essentially the chosen approach will vary depending on a variety of considerations (McQueen & Knussen, 2006, p. 8). These factors may include the context, ethical issues and practical considerations at play. (McQueen and Knussen, 2006, p.8).
In most instances the research process aims to investigate, if a relationship exists between or among variables (McQueen and Knussen, 2006, p.67). The concept of causality or ‘cause and effect’ has been extremely important throughout the history of psychology (Baron, Branscombe and Byrne, 2009, p.24). Within a social psychology context the approach is to review the level to which a number of variables are associated to each other, when taken at a single point in time (Howitt and Cramer, 2011 p. 8). In essence causality is a statistical index or test, which describes the degree and direction of the relationship between two characteristics or variables. (Howitt and Cramer, 2011, p. 8). Thus it can be said that the stronger a correlation exists, the more confident one can be in predicting the outcome. This can also be known as the correlational
Social psychology employs the scientific method of research to study behavior and as such has been defined as:
‘The scientific investigation of how the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.’ (Hogg and Vaughan, 2011, p.8).
When a researcher is investigating a particular field of study they have several options available to them, surveys can be completed, their own intuition implemented, questionnaires developed or observations made, essentially the chosen approach will vary depending on a variety of considerations (McQueen & Knussen, 2006, p. 8). These factors may include the context, ethical issues and practical considerations at play. (McQueen and Knussen, 2006, p.8).
In most instances the research process aims to investigate, if a relationship exists between or among variables (McQueen and Knussen, 2006, p.67). The concept of causality or ‘cause and effect’ has been extremely important throughout the history of psychology (Baron, Branscombe and Byrne, 2009, p.24). Within a social psychology context the approach is to review the level to which a number of variables are associated to each other, when taken at a single point in time (Howitt and Cramer, 2011 p. 8). In essence causality is a statistical index or test, which describes the degree and direction of the relationship between two characteristics or variables. (Howitt and Cramer, 2011, p. 8). Thus it can be said that the stronger a correlation exists, the more confident one can be in predicting the outcome. This can also be known as the correlational
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