Title: Module 2: Research Methods in Social Psychology – Principles of Social Psychology
Headings: Module 2: Research Methods in Social Psychology
Module 2: Research Methods in Social Psychology
Module Overview
Module Outline
Module Learning Outcomes
2.1. The Scientific Method
Table 2.1: The Steps of the Scientific Method
2.2. Research Designs Used by Social Psychologists
2.2.1. Observational Research
2.2.2. Case Studies
2.2.3. Surveys/Self-Report Data
2.2.4. Correlational Research
2.2.5. Example of a Study Using Survey and Correlational Designs
2.2.6. Experiments
2.2.7. Multi-Method Research
2.2.8. Archival Research
2.2.9. Meta-Analysis
2.2.10. Communicating Results
2.3. Reliability and Validity
2.3.1. Reliability
2.3.2. Validity
2.4. Research Ethics
2.4.1. Milgram’s Study on Learning…or Not
2.4.2. GO TO JAIL: Go Directly to Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200
2.4.3. Ethical Guidelines
2.5. Issues in Social Psychology
2.5.1. The Replication Crisis in Social Psychology
2.5.2. Generalizability
Module Recap

Content: In fact, it is safe to say that most people not within our discipline or a sister science, would be surprised to learn that psychology utilizes the scientific method at all. So what is the scientific method? Simply, the scientific method is a systematic method for gathering knowledge about the world around us. The key word here is that it is systematic meaning there is a set way to use it. What is that way? Well, depending on what source you look at it can include a varying number of steps. For our purposes, the following will be used: Table 2.1: The Steps of the Scientific Method
Step
Name
Description
0
Ask questions and be willing to wonder. To study the world around us you have to wonder about it.