PSYB10H3 Study Guide - Final Guide: Reaction Formation, Cognitive Dissonance, Social Cognition
Document Summary
When making decisions, we may be influenced by what other people may think as the ultimate or best choice. Social psychology uses the scientific method and has an individualized focus and examines both internal and external aspects of the person. It also acknowledges the importance of both objective reality and subjective perceptions. The scientific method is a series of steps taken to achieve results to an experiment which tests a question. There are five steps to this process: 1) hypothesis 2) operationalize 3) measure 4) evaluate. A theory is an integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events. Theories not only summarize, they also imply testable predictions, called hypotheses. Socially desirable responding is when one responds to questions for an experimental process with answers which are regarded as socially correct, normal or desired. These answers do not conform with the person s beliefs but to society.
