Deck 2: Developing Research Topics in Social Psychology

Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes social facilitation effects?

A) easy tasks are disrupted when others are present
B) harder tasks are made easier when others are present
C) easy tasks are performed better when others are present
D) harder tasks are performed better when others are present

Answer 1

easy tasks are performed better when others are present

Question 2

In the first recorded social psychology experiment, Triplett (1898) found that:

A) children performed a reel cranking task worse when competing against a coactor
B) children performed a reel cranking task better when competing against a coactor
C) children performed a reel cranking task worse when competing against themselves
D) children performed a reel cranking task better when competing against themselves

Answer 2

children performed a reel cranking task better when competing against a coactor

Question 3

A complete definition of social facilitation notes that:

A) In general, the presence of others improves performance on easy tasks but disrupts challenging ones
B) In general, the presence of others disrupts performance on easy tasks but improves challenging ones
C) In general, the presence of others improves performance on easy tasks
D) In general, the presence of others disrupts performance on challenging tasks

Answer 3

In general, the presence of others improves performance on easy tasks but disrupts challenging ones

Question 4

The groundbreaking work of Latane and Darley (1968, 1970) on helping behavior in response to emergencies revealed that:

A) alone or in groups, people are quick to help regardless of the circumstance
B) the presence of others facilitates helping behavior in emergencies
C) the presence of others often prevents people from offering help
D) most people are self-centered, so they refuse to help bystanders in need

Question 5

Pluralistic ignorance occurs in emergencies when:

A) no one acts like an emergency exists so no one responds
B) people do not understand emergency procedures
C) the focus of attention is directed away from the emergency
D) everyone acts like an emergency exists buy no one responds

Question 6

Gilbert et al.'s (1998) research on affective forecasting among university faculty found that after a few years:

A) being denied tenure actually made people happier than they anticipated
B) earning tenure actually made people feel worse that they anticipated
C) those who earned tenure were much happier than those who were denied tenure
D) those who were denied tenure were as happy as those who earned it

Question 7

Which of the following is not listed as a source for finding research questions in social psychology?

A) self-reflection
B) your community
C) the media
D) All of the above are sources

Question 8

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology is best described as a:

A) primary source
B) secondary source
C) tertiary source
D) reference work

Question 9

The journal Psychological Bulletin is best described as a:

A) primary source
B) secondary source
C) tertiary source
D) reference work

Question 10

Borrowing ideas from published social psychology experiments is:

A) a form of plagiarism
B) is fine if paraphrasing is used
C) is a good idea because new research builds on existing research
D) is a bad idea because using existing research reduces creativity

Question 11

Describe how Triplett (1898) developed what later came to be known as social facilitation.

Question 12

What is social facilitation? Provide an example from daily life what illustrates this phenomenon.

Question 13

When are individuals like to offer help to those in need? When are people unlikely to notice that an emergency exists?

Question 14

Define affective forecasting. What is the impact bias and why is illustrative of affective forecasting?

Question 15

Provide an everyday example of affective forecasting. Using the example, explain why people often "mispredict"
how they will feel in the future.

Question 16

List and define three sources of ideas for research questions in social psychology.

Question 17

What are the advantages of using the Internet to develop research ideas in social psychology? Are there any disadvantages in using this resource? Explain.

Question 18

What are the distinctions among primary, secondary, and tertiary sources? Are all three types of sources appropriate for doing research reports? Why or why not?

Question 19

How can a researcher use one reference in a social psychology article to find another?

Question 20

Why is it important for researchers to keep an organized bibliography of research sources? When is a bibliography used?

Question 21

Describe the three-step process for drawing meaning from a primary or a secondary source.

Question 22

What are some useful tips or guidelines for taking notes when reading social psychology sources?

Question 23

What did Isaac Newton mean when he wrote that "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants"? Explain this quote in the context of social psychology research.

Question 24

Are there ever truly "new" ideas in research social psychology? Why or why not?

Question 25

Explain why building upon previous research in social psychology is a good idea for student researchers and a good idea in general.