Download Psychology 240 December Exam Review Questions

Psychology 240 December Exam Review Questions
Dr. C. Lomore
The following questions will help you to prepare for the upcoming December exam. For
the December exam, I will select some questions from this list for the written portion of the
exam. The remainder of the exam questions will be applied in nature. That is, the rest of the
questions will present you with a social situation and will ask you to apply your knowledge of
the course material to the question. However, if you know the material in all of the questions
below and can correctly apply that material, you will be prepared for these applied questions.
Please note, that these questions will only help you study the lecture material. Use the
iStudy Guide (available online by purchasing a pin card at the Bookstore) to study the textbook
material. Questions on the written portion of the exam may be generated from material in the
textbook that has not been discussed in class.
Introduction to Social Psychology
1) Describe and discuss the three key themes of the social psychological perspective. Use
research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study) to support your response.
2) Describe and discuss the history of social psychology, beginning in the period from the
1880-1920 through to social psychology in the 21st century.
Research Methods in Social Psychology
1) Describe and discuss the process of formulating a hypothesis. That is, define
“hypothesis” and explain the steps necessary to develop a hypothesis.
2) Hypotheses always include conceptual (i.e., abstract) variables that need to be
operationally defined. Describe what an operational definition is, as well as the two
different types of operational definitions generally used by social psychologists. Include
specific examples of such types of operational definitions in your response.
3) Social psychologists sometimes use the observational method to test their research
questions. Overall, what is the observational method? Discuss the three different types
of observations methods used by social psychologists (i.e., naturalistic, participant,
archival).
4) Describe and discuss the correlational method. What is the objective of the correlational
method and why do social psychologists use the correlational method? Describe the
three types of correlational relationships that can be uncovered in correlational studies.
What is the primary limitation of the correlational method and describe why this is a
limitation to the correlational method? Use an example of a correlational study in your
response.
5) Define random sampling. Provide an example of random sampling in your response.
6) Describe and discuss the experimental method. What is the objective of the
experimental method and how is this objective achieved in experiments? Describe and
discuss the two different types of variables used in the experimental method. How are
participants assigned in experiments? Use an example of an experimental study to
support your points.
7) Define random assignment. Why is random assignment used? How is random
assignment distinct from random sampling? Use an example to support your points.
8) What is a quasi-experiment? When/why are quasi-experiments used? Give an example
in your response.
Social Beliefs and Judgments
1) Ambady and Rosenthal conducted a series of studies examining how quickly we are able
to form first impressions of other people. Describe and discuss their studies.
2) What is a schema? Why do we have schemas; that is, what do schemas provide us with?
What are the three purposes of schemas [use research evidence (i.e., brief methods and
results of a study) in support of this point]? What are the three disadvantages of schemas
[again, use research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study) in support of this
point]?
3) Describe and discuss belief perseverance, confirmation bias, and confirmatory hypothesis
testing. Where possible use research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of studies)
in support of this point.
4) Describe and discuss self-fulfilling prophecies. In your response, describe and discuss a
study showing a self-fulfilling prophecy. What are the limits of self-fulfilling
prophecies?
5) Define the fundamental attribution error. Why do we make this error? In your response,
describe and discuss the methods and results of a study showing the fundamental
attribution error. How does the actor-observer effect differ from the fundamental
attribution error?
6) Describe and discuss Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment. Why did the guards and
prisoners behave the way they did?
7) Describe and discuss Heider’s three dimensions of causal attributions. When we are
trying to explain a single-instance observation of behavior, we often use either the
discounting or augmentation principles. Describe and discuss these two principles.
8) According to Hal Kelly, when we are trying to explain people’s behavior across multiple
instances, we consider three factors. Describe and discuss each of these three factors.
When can we use these three factors to make clear attributions?
The Social Self
1) Why, when and with whom do we socially compare ourselves? In class, we discussed
two types of social comparisons: downward and upward comparisons. Define and
discuss each of these types of comparisons: how do these comparisons make us feel?
For each type of comparison, describe the methods and results of a study that illustrate
the effects of the comparisons.
2) What is the paradox of the contented woman? Why does this paradox occur?
3) What is self-esteem? In class, we discussed three theories about where self-esteem
comes from (Looking Glass Self Theory, Sociometer Theory, & Contingencies of SelfWorth). For each of these theories, first describe and discuss the theory, then describe the
methods and results of a study to illustrate the theory.
4) Describe and discuss the Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model. Support your response
with the methods and results of a study.
5) Describe and discuss Self-Discrepancy Theory.
6) Self-Affirmation Theory suggests a method that people might use to maintain their selfesteem. Describe and discuss this method. In your response, be sure to discuss the
theory’s proposed differences between people with low and high self-esteem. Support
your response with the methods and results of a study.
7) In class, we discussed two different motivations for self-presentation: instrumental and
expressive. Define instrumental self-presentation and discuss five different means of
instrumental self-presentation. Define expressive self-presentation.
8) In general, we tend to present ourselves to others in a positive way. However in class, we
discussed a factor that moderates the degree of positivity/favorability we present
ourselves with. Describe and discuss this factor and four reasons why it moderates how
positively we present ourselves. Support your response with the methods and results of a
study.
Attitudes
1) Define attitude. Why do we have attitudes? Describe and discuss the three components
of attitudes, and use a concrete example of an attitude to illustrate these components.
2) Where do our attitudes come from? In addition, some of our attitudes are cognitively
based, some are affectively based, while others are behaviorally based. Describe and
discuss these bases.
3) In class, we discussed four different factors that determine attitude strength. Describe
and discuss these four factors. Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief
methods and results of a study or studies) where possible.
4) Discuss whether our attitudes always predict our behavior. Describe and discuss the
variables that predict both our spontaneous behaviors and our planned/deliberate
behaviors.
5) What is cognitive dissonance? When we experience dissonance, what are we motivated
to do and why? Describe and discuss the two elements necessary for cognitive
dissonance to occur. Support your response with the methods and results of a study.
6) In class, we discussed four methods of reducing dissonance. Describe each of these
methods. Where possible, support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief
methods and results of a study).
Persuasion
1) People either take the central route or the peripheral route to persuasion. In class, we
discussed two variables that influence which route people take: motivation to pay
attention and ability to pay attention to a message. Describe and discuss the factors that
influence our motivation and ability to pay attention to messages. Where possible,
support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study).
2) Discuss the factors related to the source of a persuasive communication that enhance
persuasiveness.
3) In class, we discussed four factors related to the message content of a persuasive
communication. These factors influence how persuasive the message is. Describe and
discuss these factors, using research evidence (i.e., methods and results of a study or
studies) to support your response where possible.
4) What is attitude inoculation? How does it work? Support your response with research
evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study).
5) In class, we discussed several persuasion techniques including good mood, scarcity and
reciprocity. Discuss each of these techniques, using examples to support your points.
6) Describe and discuss the foot-in-the-door effect. Why does this persuasion technique
work to influence people? Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief
methods and results of a study).
7) Describe and discuss lowballing. Why does this persuasion technique work to influence
people? Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of
a study).
8) Describe and discuss the principle of social proof. Why does social proof influence us?
Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study).
9) Describe and discuss the Tag-Team Persuasion Model. Support your response with
research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of two studies).
Conformity
1) What is normative social influence? Why do people conform to normative influence?
Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results of a study).
2) Describe and discuss Asch’s line studies. That is, describe the methods and results of
Asch’s studies and the variations of the studies.
3) Describe and discuss Social Impact Theory.
4) What is informational social influence? Why do people conform to informational
influence? Support your response with research evidence (i.e., brief methods and results
of a study).
5) Describe and discuss Milgram’s studies of obedience. That is, describe the methods and
results of Milgram’s studies, their variations and the importance of Milgram’s work.
Why did people obey the experimenter in Milgram’s studies?