CHAPTER 2

Research Methods in Social

Psychology

LEARNING
OUTCOMES

At the end of the chapter the learners should be able to:

⮚ describe what descriptive research is;

⮚ identify the type of descriptive research used in social psychology and its importance;
⮚ discuss the research areas in social psychology.

INTRODUCTION

Uncertainties that arises in understanding social behavior can be best explained by conducting
researches that will address issues in the present condition that we have. This module will clarify us
what social research is.

ABSTRACTION

https://www.verywellmind.com/social-psychology-research-methods-2795902

Descriptive Research

⮚ The goal of descriptive research is to portray what already exists in a group or population.
⮚ Descriptive studies cannot determine if there is a relationship between two variables. They can
only describe what exists within a given population.
⮚ An example of descriptive research would be conducting a survey to find out
people's attitudes toward a particular social issue such as divorce, capital punishment, or
gambling laws.

Common Types of Descriptive Research

Some of the most commonly used forms of descriptive research utilized by social psychologists include:

Surveys
 ⮚ Surveys are probably one of the most frequently used types of descriptive research. Such
surveys usually rely on self-report inventories in which people fill out questionnaires about their
own behaviors or opinions.
⮚ The advantage of the survey method is that it allows social psychology researchers to gather a
large amount of data relatively quickly, easily, and cheaply.

The Observational Method

⮚ This involves watching people and describing their behavior. Sometimes referred to as field
observation, this can involve creating a scenario in a lab and then watching how people respond
or performing naturalistic observation in the subject's own environment.
⮚ Each type of observation has its own strengths and weaknesses. Researchers might prefer using
observational methods in a lab in order to gain greater control over possible extraneous
variables, while they might prefer using naturalistic observation in order to obtain greater
ecological validity.

Case Studies

⮚ It involves the in-depth observation of a single individual or group.

⮚ It allow researchers to gain insight into things that are very rare or even impossible to reproduce
in experimental settings.

Why Social Psychology Research is Important

⮚ Social psychology research methods allow psychologists to get a better look at what causes

people to engage in certain behaviors in social situations.
⮚ In order to empirically study social behavior, psychologists rely on a number of different scientific
methods to conduct research on social psychology topics.
⮚ These methods allow researchers to test hypotheses and theories and look for relationships
between different variables.

The 8 Major Research Areas in Social Psychology

https://www.verywellmind.com/research-areas-in-social-psychology-2795913
1. Social Cognition
o Concerned with the processing, storage, and application of social information. This research
area is closely related to the field of cognitive psychology, a research area focusing largely on
the concept of schemas.
● Schemas are our general ideas about the world, how things are, and how
things work.

2. Attitudes and Attitude Change

⮚ Another major research area in social psychology involves the study of attitudes. Social
psychologists are interested in the components of attitudes, how attitudes develop, and how
attitudes change.

3. Prosocial Behavior

⮚  Prosocial behaviors are those that involve helping and cooperating. Researchers often look at
why people help others, as well as why they sometimes refuse to help or cooperate.
The bystander effect is an example of a social phenomenon in the subject area of prosocial
behavior.
 2. Prejudice and Discrimination

⮚ Prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes exist in any social group. Social psychologists are
interested in the origins, causes, and effects of these types of attitudes and social
categorizations. How does prejudice develop?5 Why are stereotypes maintained in the face of
contrary evidence? These are only a few of the questions social psychologists seek to answer.

3. Self and Social Identity

⮚ Our perceptions of social identities and ourselves are another important research area in social
psychology. How do people come to know and understand themselves? How do these self-
perceptions affect our social interactions?
⮚ Social psychologists are interested in learning more about how this inner life influences our outer
lives and social world. Self-awareness, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-expression are only a
few of the factors that influence our social experience.

4. Group Behavior

⮚ The behavior of groups is one of the largest research areas in social psychology. Most people
realize that groups tend to behave differently than individuals. These group behaviors are
sometimes beneficial and positive, but can also be detrimental and negative. Social
psychologists often look at topics such as group dynamics, leadership, group decision making,
conflicts, cooperation, and group influence.

5. Social Influence

⮚ Social psychologists are also interested in the role that social influence has on behavior and
decision making. Topics such as the psychology of persuasion, peer pressure, conformity, and
obedience are only a few of those studied in this area of social psychology.

6. Interpersonal Relationships

⮚ Social relationships play a major role in shaping behavior, attitudes, feelings, and thoughts.
Social psychologists study how these interpersonal relationships affect people by looking at
attachment, liking, love, and attraction. How close relationships affect individuals, how important
interpersonal relationships are, and what causes attraction are only some of the areas social
psychologists look at in-depth.

APPLICATION
1. In your own words explain what descriptive research is;
2. What are the type of descriptive research used in social psychology, and its importance;
3. Discuss the research areas in social psychology.
4. Based from your answer (pressing problem #3) in the previous chapter, write a sample of
descriptive research considering topics in social psychology (Title, Objectives)