Outline and Assess the Use of Experiments in Social Psychology Drawing on the Cognitive Social Perspective and Phenomenological Perspective
Outline and assess the use of experiments in social psychology drawing on the cognitive social perspective and phenomenological perspective.
DD307 Social Psychology: Critical Perspectives on Self and Others
Chris Hall
P.I: B8172344
Hand in date: 29/02/12
Word Count:
In this essay I have been asked to outline and assess the use of experiments in social psychology. For the last century scholars have often questioned what actually is social psychology, and many answers can be found, however the general consensus of social psychologists is that it is the science of the socially structured mind. Prof Haslam (2006) stated “For me as a social psychologist, the issue is how is ‘the mind’, how are our thoughts structured by society?”
Furthermore I will draw on two of the four main theoretical perspectives of the discipline, the first of which being the cognitive social perspective. The ontology of the perspective has researchers view the person as a thinker in society, one whose thought processes are shaped by and helped create the world in which they live. Typically the methodology is principally quantitative, in mainly laboratory based experiments. Investigators shepherd studies in which they collect quantitative data and assess theory based hypothesis using standard statistical techniques. In addition I will also be referring to the phenomenological perspective the ontology of which views the person without any essence or fixed core, but rather as something that comes into being through their actions in the world. Phenomenological methodology is qualitative, looking at people’s perceptions of the world and developing our understanding of these as analysts. The focus on experience of the heart of phenomenological methodology results in a need to collect data of people’s lived experiences. This may be through first person accounts, interviews or other literally sources.
Since
DD307 Social Psychology: Critical Perspectives on Self and Others
Chris Hall
P.I: B8172344
Hand in date: 29/02/12
Word Count:
In this essay I have been asked to outline and assess the use of experiments in social psychology. For the last century scholars have often questioned what actually is social psychology, and many answers can be found, however the general consensus of social psychologists is that it is the science of the socially structured mind. Prof Haslam (2006) stated “For me as a social psychologist, the issue is how is ‘the mind’, how are our thoughts structured by society?”
Furthermore I will draw on two of the four main theoretical perspectives of the discipline, the first of which being the cognitive social perspective. The ontology of the perspective has researchers view the person as a thinker in society, one whose thought processes are shaped by and helped create the world in which they live. Typically the methodology is principally quantitative, in mainly laboratory based experiments. Investigators shepherd studies in which they collect quantitative data and assess theory based hypothesis using standard statistical techniques. In addition I will also be referring to the phenomenological perspective the ontology of which views the person without any essence or fixed core, but rather as something that comes into being through their actions in the world. Phenomenological methodology is qualitative, looking at people’s perceptions of the world and developing our understanding of these as analysts. The focus on experience of the heart of phenomenological methodology results in a need to collect data of people’s lived experiences. This may be through first person accounts, interviews or other literally sources.
Since
References: Aronson, E. et al. (1966) Methodological principles, Experimentation in Social Psychology, pp. 99-142 ‘Contemporary Methods and Perspectives’ (2006), Social Psychology: Critical Perspectives on Self and Others [DVD], Milton Keynes, Open University Edwards, D. et al. (2005) ‘Three views on hate’, The Psychologist, vol. 18. No. 9, September, pp. 844-7. Hewstone, M. et al. (eds) (1997) The Blackwell Reader in Social Psychology, Oxford, Blackwell Hollway, W Milgram, S. (1963) ‘Behavioural study of obedience’ Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, vol. 67, pp.371-8 Milgram, S Milgram, S. (1974) Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View, London, Tavistock. Milgram, S. (1977) The Individual in a Social World: Essyas and Experiments, Reading, MA, Addison Wesley. Mishler, e.g. (1986) Research Interviewing: Context and Narrative, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press. Mixon, D (1971) ‘Behaviour analysis treating subjects as actors rather than organisms’, Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, vol 1, pp.19-31 Patton, M.Q Polkinghorne, D.E (1988) Narrative Knowing and the Human Sciences, Albany, NY State University of New York Press.