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Overview
The focus of social psychology is to understand how a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others. Unlike
sociology, social psychology takes the perspective of the individual rather than the group and examines what makes us engage in behaviors such as aggression,
attraction, altruism, self-justification, social cognition, and social perception. With its roots in Gestalt psychology, social psychology puts its emphasis not on
physical reality, but rather on an individual’s perception of the world around them. Historically, this field has played an important role in understanding the
causes of, as well as treatments for, social issues such as reducing violence, increasing helping behaviors, and assisting people in living healthier and safer lives.
The purpose of this assessment is to recognize the value of social psychology on society throughout its history as a field. You will also analyze research for how it
changes or does not change based on the time period when it was conducted.
This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:
Analyze social psychological research for how the field has changed over the course of its history
Assess the impact of social psychological research trends for their influence on human behavior
Analyze elements of social psychological research for their influence on improving social welfare
Evaluate the influence of social psychological research on society for its efficacy for social change
Analyze ethical issues in social psychological research for determining appropriate strategies for use in scientific research
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Five, and Seven. The final product will be submitted in Module Nine.
Prompt
Research in social psychology has changed a great deal in the past 100 years. An examination of modern research, as opposed to classic research, shows
differences with regard to the theoretical orientation (e.g., genetics, sociocultural approach, and social learning theory), ethics, and the basic versus applied
nature of the research. There are also differences between the classic and current research with regard to its influence on social behavior.
The task of this assignment is to select one classic research study in social psychology from a provided list. You will then locate a modern (within the last 10 years)
peer-reviewed research study in the same subject area. The article you locate will be submitted for instructor approval. You will analyze these studies for their
approach to social psychology, the influence of theories, research trends of the different time periods, the influence of the research on society, and how issues of
ethics and ethical strategies differ across time.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: For this part of the assessment, you will:
A. Briefly summarize the research question, results, and conclusions reached by the authors of each study you have chosen.
B. Describe the social psychological approaches used in each of the chosen studies and justify why you believe that authors of the studies used
these approaches.
C. Analyze the studies for the theories and past research you believe were used by the authors of the studies that informed their approach.
D. Analyze the approaches used by the authors in each of the chosen studies for how they do or do not demonstrate how the field of social
psychology has changed over time. In other words, how are the approaches used by the authors in each of the chosen studies similar or
different? How do they demonstrate how the field has or has not changed over the course of its history?
II. Human Behavior: For this part of the assessment, you will analyze each of your chosen studies for how they might have influenced the development of
human behavior in society.
A. Explain how the research trends in social psychology in the different time periods of both studies may have informed the direction of the
research. In other words, how did the research trends of the time influence the researchers in developing their study? Be sure to support your
response with appropriate evidence.
B. Assess how, once published and conveyed to the public, the results and conclusions reached by the researchers of the chosen studies may have
influenced human behaviors.
C. Assess how the chosen studies were or were not aligned with the established research trends of the time, and how that may have affected how
they were received by the public. Be sure to support your response with appropriate evidence.
III. Influence on Society: For this part of the assessment, you will evaluate the impact of the chosen studies in terms of how they have instigated social
change and how they have benefited society. You should consider researching the historical context of the chosen study to support your responses.
A. Analyze the chosen studies for elements of the research that you believe may have been a benefit to society at any point in time and be sure to
justify your response.
B. Analyze the chosen studies for elements of the research that you believe may have had a negative impact on society at any point in time and be
sure to justify your response.
C. Explain possible ways that the results or conclusions of the studies could be applied to everyday life in modern society.
D. Evaluate the chosen studies for how they may have influenced events of social change (positively or negatively). Be sure to provide examples to
support your response.
E. Describe a personal or professional experience in which elements of social psychological research could be applied to help influence change.
F. Explain how influential you believe social psychological research has been on changing behavior in society. If you believe it is not influential,
explain why.
IV. Ethical Considerations: For this part of the assessment, you will analyze each of the chosen studies for ethical issues that might be present, and examine
how the time period may have influenced the ethical strategies of the researchers.
A. Analyze each of the chosen studies for any potential ethical issues that may be present in their research design. If there are no potential ethical
issues, explain why. Be sure to consider issues with research design as well as the impact of the experiment on the participants.
B. Explain how well each of the studies follow the ethical guidelines of their respective time period and justify your response. In other words, how
do the ethical guidelines of the time period of the study change, whether the studies should be considered ethical or unethical?
C. Recommend ethically appropriate strategies that could be utilized by the studies in order to address identified ethical issues. In other words,
what changes could be made to the studies in order to make them align with more modern ethical guidelines?
Milestones
Milestone One: Study Selections and Summaries
In Module Three, you will submit your study selections and summaries, in which you will select a classic and modern research study for your final comparative
analysis. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Similarities and Differences Chart
In Module Five, you will submit your similarities and differences chart to help you begin to compare and contrast your selected classic and modern studies. Use
the similarities and differences chart in the Milestone Two Learning Aid document to format your submission. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone
Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Rough Draft
In Module Seven, you will submit your rough draft of your final paper. This milestone will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
Final Submission: Research Study Comparative Analysis
In Module Nine, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should
reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Study Selection and Summary Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Similarities and Differences Chart Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Rough Draft Seven Graded separately;
Final Project Rubric
Final Submission: Research Study
Comparative Analysis
Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your research study comparative analysis should adhere to the following formatting requirements: 8–10 pages in length, with 12-
point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, double spacing, and APA formatting and citations.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction: Summary Meets “Proficient” criteria and
summary demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
research question, results, and
conclusions reached by the
authors of each study chosen
Briefly summarizes the research
question, results, and conclusions
reached by the authors of each
study chosen
Summarizes the research
question, results, and conclusions
reached by the authors of each
study chosen, but summary is
cursory or not brief
Does not summarize the research
question, results, and conclusions
reached by the authors of each
study chosen
5
Introduction:
Approaches
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
description demonstrates how
the approach used by researchers
influences the research process
Describes the social psychological
approach used in each of the
chosen studies and justifies why
the authors used these
approaches
Describes the social psychological
approach used in each of the
chosen studies but description of
the approach is cursory or
inaccurate or does not justify
response
Does not describe the social
psychological approach used in
each of the chosen studies
6
Introduction: Theories
and Past Research
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates keen
insight into how theories and
past research are used in the
research process
Analyzes the studies for the
theories and past research used
by the authors of the studies that
informed their approach
Analyzes the studies for the
theories and past research used
by the authors of the studies that
informed their approach but
analysis is cursory or inaccurate
Does not analyze the studies for
the theories and past research
used by the authors of the
studies that informed their
approach
6
Introduction: Changed
Over Time
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how the time
period in which a study takes
place influences the research
process
Analyzes the approaches used by
the authors of the studies for
how they do or do not
demonstrate how the field of
social psychology has changed
over time
Analyzes the approaches used by
the authors of the studies for
how they do or do not
demonstrate how the field of
social psychology has changed
over time, but analysis is cursory
or inaccurate
Does not analyze the approaches
used by the authors of the
studies for how they do or do not
demonstrate how the field of
social psychology has changed
over time
6
Human Behavior:
Different Time Periods
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of how
the time period in which a study
takes place influences the
research process
Explains how the research trends
in social psychology in the
different time periods of both
studies may have informed the
direction of the research and
supports response using
appropriate evidence
Explains how the research trends
in social psychology in the
different time periods of both
studies may have informed the
direction of the research, but
explanation is cursory or does
not support response with
evidence
Does not explain how the
research trends in social
psychology in the different time
periods of both studies may have
informed the direction of the
research
6
Human Behavior:
Results and
Conclusions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assessment demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
relationship between social
psychological research and its
influence on human behavior
Assesses how the results and
conclusions reached by the
researchers of the chosen studies
may have influenced human
behavior
Assesses how the results and
conclusions reached by the
researchers of the chosen studies
may have influenced human
behavior, but assessment is
cursory or inaccurate
Does not assess how the results
and conclusions reached by the
researchers of the chosen studies
may have influenced human
behavior
6
Human Behavior:
Research Trends
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assessment demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of how
the time period in which a study
takes place influences how
research is perceived
Assesses how the research trends
of the time may have influenced
the impact of the chosen studies
on society and supports response
using appropriate evidence
Assesses how the research trends
of the time may have influenced
the impact of the chosen studies
on society, but assessment is
cursory or does not support
response with evidence
Does not assess how the research
trends of the time may have
influenced the impact of the
chosen studies on society
6
Influence on Society:
Benefit Society
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates a keen
insight of how social
psychological research can
influence social change
Analyzes the chosen studies for
elements in their results or
conclusions reached that may
benefit society and justifies
response
Analyzes the chosen studies for
elements in their results or
conclusions reached that may
benefit society but analysis is
cursory or inaccurate or does not
justify response
Does not analyze the chosen
studies for elements in their
results or conclusions reached
that may benefit society
6
Influence on Society:
Negative Impact
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates a keen
insight of how social
psychological research can
influence social change
Analyzes the chosen studies for
elements in their results or
conclusions reached that may
have had a negative impact on
society and justifies response
Analyzes the chosen studies for
elements in their results or
conclusions reached that may
have had a negative impact on
society, but analysis is cursory or
inaccurate or does not justify
response
Does not analyze the chosen
studies for elements in their
results or conclusions reached
that may have had a negative
impact on society
6
Influence on Society:
Everyday Life
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into how social
psychological research can
influence everyday life
Explains possible ways that the
results or conclusions of the
studies could be applied to
everyday life in society
Explains possible ways that the
results or conclusions of the
studies could be applied to
everyday life in society, but
explanation is cursory or
inaccurate
Does not explain possible ways
that the results or conclusions of
the studies could be applied to
everyday life in society
6
Influence on Society:
Social Change
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a keen insight of
how social psychological research
can influence social change
Evaluates the chosen studies for
how they may have influenced
events of social change
(positively or negatively) and
provides examples
Evaluates the chosen studies for
how they may have influenced
events of social change
(positively or negatively) and
provides examples, but
evaluation or provided examples
are cursory or inaccurate
Does not evaluate the chosen
studies for how they may have
influenced events of social
change (positively or negatively)
6
Influence on Society:
Personal or
Professional Experience
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates keen
insight into how social
psychological research can
influence everyday life
Describes a personal or
professional experience in which
elements of social psychological
research could be utilized to
influence change
Describes a personal or
professional experience in which
elements of social psychological
research could be utilized to
influence change, but description
is cursory or inaccurate
Does not describe a personal or
professional experience in which
elements of social psychological
research could be utilized to
influence change
6
Influence on Society:
Influential
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of how
the time period in which a study
takes place influences the
research
Explains how influential you
believe social psychological
research has been on changing
behavior in society
Explains how influential you
believe social psychological
research has been on changing
behavior in society but
explanation is cursory or
inaccurate
Does not explain how influential
you believe social psychological
research has been on changing
behavior in society
6
Ethical Considerations:
Ethical Issues
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of the ethical
issues common in different time
periods in the field of psychology
Analyzes each of the chosen
studies for any potential ethical
issues that may be present in
their research design
Analyzes each of the chosen
studies for any potential ethical
issues that may be present in
their research design but analysis
is cursory or inaccurate
Does not analyze each of the
chosen studies for any potential
ethical issues that may be
present in their research design
6
Ethical Considerations:
Ethical Guidelines
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of how
the ethical guidelines of the time
period of a study can inform how
ethical a study is perceived
Explains how well the studies
follow the ethical guidelines of
their respective time period and
justifies response
Explains how well the studies
follow the ethical guidelines of
their respective time period but
explanation is cursory or
inaccurate or does not justify
response
Does not explain how well the
studies follow the ethical
guidelines of their respective
time period
6
Ethical Considerations:
Ethically Appropriate
Strategies
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates keen insight into
how to apply modern ethical
guidelines to research both past
and present
Recommends ethically
appropriate strategies that could
be utilized by the studies in order
to address identified ethical
issues
Recommends ethically
appropriate strategies that could
be utilized by the studies in order
to address identified ethical
issues but recommendations are
cursory or inappropriate
Does not recommend ethically
appropriate strategies that could
be utilized by the studies in order
to address identified ethical
issues
6
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and organization
and is presented in a professional
and easy-to-read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact readability
and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Earned Total 100%
-
PSY 530 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Prompt
Milestones
Milestone One: Study Selections and Summaries
Milestone Two: Similarities and Differences Chart
Milestone Three: Rough Draft
Final Submission: Research Study Comparative Analysis
Deliverables
Final Project Rubric
PSY 530 Final Project Milestone Two: Similarities and Differences Table
Learning Aid
Your Classic Study: Obedience to Authority: Stanley Milgram ___________________________________________________________________
Your More Recent Study: Authority as epistemic capital ______________________________________________________________
|
Classic and Modern Study Questions
|
Responses for Classic Study |
Responses for Modern Study |
Similarities and Differences Between Your Two Responses |
|
Citation for studies in APA style |
Milgram, S. (1965). Some conditions of obedience and disobedience to authority. |
Alasuutari, P. (2018). Authority as epistemic capital. |
Article by Milgram published over fifty years ago while article by Alasuutari published within the last five years |
|
What is the research question or hypothesis in this study? |
“If an experimenter tells a subject to hurt another person, under what conditions will the subject go along with this instruction, and under what conditions will he refuse to obey.” |
How does authority as a concept appeal to different persons thinking processes to produce behaviors? |
Both research were meant to determine how authority affects behavior of different persons. Whereas classic study was to determine how authority imposes behavioral outcomes to persons modern study aimed to determine how authority appeals to different persons in thinking process to produce behaviors. |
|
Name two studies referenced in this article that contributed to the main theme of this article. |
Buss, ARNOLD H. (1961). KIERKEGAARD, S. (1843). |
Alasuutari, P., 2016. The synchronization of national policies: ethnography of the global tribe of moderns. London: Routledge Alasuutari, P. and Qadir, A., 2014. Epistemic governance: an approach to the politics of policymaking. European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, 1, 67–84. doi:10.1080/23254823.2014.887986 |
The difference is that the author of the classic article used references from other studies while the author of the modern article used some of the sources, he had published himself in the past |
|
What type of research method was used in this study? Correlation? Experiment? |
The methodology was observational since the author explained how different scenarios of an experiment done at Yale University were applicable in ascertaining how authority is used to generate social changes. |
Document analysis |
The classical article used observational research method while the modern article used observation |
|
Were the measures used in your study reliable and valid? Explain. |
Yes. The author explains how different scenarios of an experiment done at Yale university were applicable in ascertaining how authority used to generate social change |
Yes. The author synthesized data from different articles. |
In classic study the author used different scenarios of an experiment done at Yale University to ascertain how authority generated social change while the author in modern study used different document analysis to explain the impact of authority in handling behavioral actions of different persons. |
|
What were the main results/conclusions in this study? |
Human beings performed actions in conformity to the type of authoritative figure handling their directions. People can perform duties based on logical requirements, family duties, or impact in their conscience. |
Authority imposes force on different persons since it changes how they think |
In classical study, human beings performed actions in conformity to the authority handling them while in modern study authority forced change to persons as it changed how they think. |
|
Did this study have ethical problems? If so, name them. |
Yes. The author explained how people usually undergo mental pressures to adhere to diverse instruction, which becomes mandatory for them to engage with. |
No |
While classic study has ethical problems where people undergo mental pressures in complying to instructions in modern study there is no such ethical problems. |
|
How does this research help improve people’s social well-being/social welfare? |
In classic study human beings perform their actions in compliance to the authority and based on their directions. |
In modern study the authority imposes force to the people which affects their daily lives. |
In classic study human beings make their decision in line with the current authority Whereas in modern study authority imposes force on different person and changes the way they make their daily decisions. |
|
What influence did this study have on the everyday lives of people in society? |
People in the society started making decisions based on the current authority and on their directions. |
The authority-imposed force to change on the way people thought and make decisions |
In modern study the authority affected the way people were thinking and making daily decisions while classic study individual make their daily decisions in accordance with the authority. |
|
How has this study changed the way you view the world? Did this study affect you personally? |
The study has changed my view to the world. For instance, in the older days, individuals made decisions which were within the authority of the day. |
The study has changed my view on the world because I have discovered that sometimes people make decisions based on the existing authority. |
The difference in the two articles is that the way authority influenced decision-making the past decades is not the same way they influence decisions presently. |
Notes and Further Discussion:
Authority is a concept that imposes a force on different persons since it changes how they think. It is possible to generate credibility for the types of behaviors people display when they are aware of authority. Then they must conform to principles that manage their views on various activities. Influence on the type of conduct people display is a deciding factor developed using authority. People who generate authority often dictate how other persons in society behave.
