Exam 1: Theories and Methods in Social Psychology

The level of analysis most often used by social psychologists could best be described as

The ________ validity of a study is said to be high when the results can be generalized to other settings and populations.

Ethnic minority groups have been underrepresented in psychological studies previously, but they are not anymore.

Dr. Nicholas wants to study how earthquakes affect our anxiety level. What is the method he should choose to study this?

Define and give an example of a middle-range theory in social psychology.

To enhance our self-esteem and satisfy a need to feel good about ourselves, we may blame others for our failures and take personal credit for successes.

According to learning theories, which of the following is NOT a mechanism by which learning occurs?

Behaviorism has been a major influence on contemporary social psychology.

Which type of culture emphasizes loyalty to the family, adherence to group norms, and the preservation of harmony in social relations?

Dr. Lewis wants to create research that asks if learning about the scientific method makes students more critical about what they read. The goal of this research would be

Whenever Carlos asks a question in his psychology class, his professor nods her head and smiles at him in response. Carlos' frequent questions can be explained as a result of

A researcher decides to conduct an experiment to study the effects of advertising on people's attitudes toward a new breakfast cereal. She randomly assigns one group of subjects to watch a series of commercials for the cereal and assigns another group to watch a documentary on an unrelated topic. She then measures the attitudes of both groups. What are the independent and dependent variables in this study? What are the advantages of conducting an experiment to study this problem, rather than a correlational study?

In an individualistic culture, adherence to group norms is emphasized.

Explain an instance where you have used the expectancy value theory. If you feel you have not used it, how might you use it in the future?

Which type of theorist would argue that people perceive situations or events as "dynamic wholes"?

________ theories assume that people are logical and rational.

Suppose you believe that audiences are more likely to be influenced by an attractive than by an unattractive person. So you have someone give a speech in favor of welfare reform to two randomly assigned groups of subjects. For one group, the speaker is made to look very clean-cut and attractive. For the other group, the same speaker is made to look shabby and unattractive. Afterwards, participants report their views on welfare reform. This study is an example of

A descriptive research question is one that

Describe and illustrate the level of analysis used by social psychologists.

Decision-making theories assume that people are