Title: Research Methods in Social Psychology | Noba
Headings: Research Methods in Social Psychology
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Learning Objectives
Introduction
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Laboratory Research
Field Research
Survey Research
Subtle/Nonconscious Research Methods
Archival Research
Research Issues in Social Psychology
The Question of Representativeness
Ethics in Social Psychological Research
Conclusion
Outside Resources
Web: Project Implicit. Take a demonstration implicit association test
Discussion Questions
Vocabulary
Anecdotal evidence
Archival research
Basking in reflected glory
Big data
​Complex experimental designs
Confederate
Correlational research
Cover story
Demand characteristics
Dependent variable
Ecological validity
Electronically activated recorder (EAR)
Experience sampling methods
Field experiment
​Hypothesis
Implicit association test (IAT)
Independent variable
Laboratory environments
Manipulation check
Naturalistic observation
Operationalize
Participant variable
Priming
Random assignment
Samples of convenience
Scientific method
Social facilitation
Social neuroscience
Social or behavioral priming
Survey research
Terror management theory (TMT)
WEIRD cultures
References
Authors
Creative Commons License
How to cite this Noba module using APA Style

Content: Creating specific operational definitions like this allows scientists to precisely manipulate the independent variable, or “cause” (the presence of others), and to measure the dependent variable, or “effect” (performance)—in other words, to collect data. Clearly described operational definitions also help reveal possible limitations to studies (e.g., Triplett’s study did not investigate the impact of another child in the room who was not also winding a fishing reel) and help later researchers replicate them precisely. Laboratory Research
The Asch conformity experiment, which investigated how social pressure influences individual conformity, remains a classic example of a social psychology lab experiment. [ Image: D-janous, http://goo.gl/KwuGGM, CC BY-SA 4.0, http://goo.gl/etijyD]
As you can see, social psychologists have always relied on carefully designed laboratory environments to run experiments where they can closely control situations and manipulate variables (see the NOBA module on Research Designs for an overview of traditional methods). However, in the decades since Triplett discovered social facilitation, a wide range of methods and techniques have been devised, uniquely suited to demystifying the mechanics of how we relate to and influence one another. This module provides an introduction to the use of complex laboratory experiments, field experiments, naturalistic observation, survey research, nonconscious techniques, and archival research, as well as more recent methods that harness the power of technology and large data sets, to study the broad range of topics that fall within the domain of social psychology. At the end of this module we will also consider some of the key ethical principles that govern research in this diverse field. The use of complex experimental designs, with multiple independent and/or dependent variables, has grown increasingly popular because they permit researchers to study both the individual and joint effects of several factors on a range of related situations. Moreover, thanks to technological advancements and the growth of social neuroscience, an increasing number of researchers now integrate biological markers (e.g., hormones) or use neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI) in their research designs to better understand the biological mechanisms that underlie social processes.