PSYCH 2C03 Lecture Notes - Null Result, Group Dynamics, Critical Thinking
Document Summary
Impact of research on social psychology theory: how do experiments change and or developed theory, critical thinking skills. Application of social psychology theory and research to real-world situations: critical thinking skills, abstract conceptual understanding. The scientific study of how peoples affects, behaviours and cognitions are influenced by the presence of at least one other person (abcs of psychology) Very broad range of topics: conformity, persuasion, group behaviour, prejudice, sexuality. Social psychology is not just common sense. The scientific method: observations + theory -> hypothesis; predication->test, either confirms and expands theory or null result. Do scientists prove things: there is no proof of something, results are evidence for the validity of a hypothesis. In science fact: can only mean confirmed to such a degree that it would be percerse to withhold provisional assent: strictly speaking, a hypothesis or theory can ever be proven