Research In Experimental Social Psychology Research Articles

Good deeds and hard knocks: The effect of past suffering on praise for moral behavior

Are judgments of praise for moral behavior modulated by knowledge of an agent's past suffering at the hands of others, and if so, in what direction? Drawing on multiple lines of research in experimental social psychology, we identify three hypotheses about the psychology of praise — typecasting, handicapping, and non-historicism — each of which supports a different answer to the question above. Typecasting predicts that information about past suffering will augment perceived patiency and thereby diminish perceived agency, making altruistic actions seem less praiseworthy; handicapping predicts that this information will make altruistic actions seem more effortful, and hence more praiseworthy; and non-historicism predicts that judgments of praise will be insensitive to information about an agent's experiential history. We report the results of two studies suggesting that altruistic behavior tends to attract more praise when the experiential history of the agent involves coping with adversity in childhood rather than enjoying prosperity (Study 1, N = 348, p = .03, d = 0.45; Study 2, N = 400, p = .02, d = 0.39), as well as the results of a third study suggesting that altruistic behavior tends to be evaluated more favorably when the experiential history of the agent includes coping with adversity than in the absence of information about the agent's past experience (N = 226, p = .002). This pattern of results, we argue, is more consistent with handicapping than typecasting or non-historicism.

How to Measure Motivation: A Guide for the Experimental Social Psychologist

AbstractThis article examines cognitive, affective, and behavioral measures of motivation and reviews their use throughout the discipline of experimental social psychology. We distinguish between two dimensions of motivation (outcome‐focused motivation and process‐focused motivation). We discuss circumstances under which measures may help distinguish between different dimensions of motivation, as well as circumstances under which measures may capture different dimensions of motivation in similar ways. Furthermore, we examine situations in which various measures may capture fluctuations in non‐motivational factors, such as learning or physiological depletion. This analysis seeks to advance research in experimental social psychology by highlighting the need for caution when selecting measures of motivation and when interpreting fluctuations captured by these measures.

'In the Way of Righteousness Is Life': Symbolic Death Transcendence in Proverbs 10–29

While the book of Qohelet expresses significant anxiety over the prospect of death, the sages of Proverbs 10–29 scarcely exhibit a trace of death anxiety. Research in experimental social psychology suggests that such psychological equanimity about death is not accidental. Scholars often argue that Proverbs 10–29 envisions death as a ‘universal fate’ that encounters both the righteous and the wicked in the same way, but examining the text through the lens of Robert Lifton's work on symbolic death transcendence shows that a distinction is made between the post-mortem fates of the righteous and the wicked: the wicked are viewed as being utterly terminated by death while the righteous remain connected to life in multiple symbolic ways, primarily in the biological and creative modes. As a result, Proverbs 10–29 appears to function as an effective buffer against death anxiety, providing its adherents with the symbolic resources to face death with equanimity.

Research methods for social psychology

Detailed Table of Contents. List of Active Learning Exercises. Preface. Acknowledgments. 1 Studying Social Psychology. 2 Developing Research Topics in Social Psychology. 3 Ethical Issues in Social Psychological Research. 4 Basic Experimental Design. 5 Alternatives to Experimental Research in Social Psychology. 6 Developing Questionnaires and Surveys. 7 Introducing a Difference: Independent Variables. 8 Measuring What Happens: Dependent Variables. 9 Validity and Realism in Research. 10 Conducting Social Psychology Experiments: Practical Matters. 11 Data Analysis. 12 Presenting Social Psychological Research. Appendix A Major Journals in Social Psychology. Appendix B Reading Journal Articles in Social Psychology. Appendix C Annotated Student Research Paper. References. Author Index. Subject Index

Accuracy of recall among “eyewitnesses” to a simulated robbery: Intrapersonal and stimulus determinants

This study is a laboratory analogue investigation of variables that impinge upon the recall of detail about a simulated act of armed robbery among “eyewitnesses.” Specifically, this study sought to determine (1) whether recall of detail by Ss who watch the videotape of a simulated “armed robbery” taken by surveillance camera in a “convenience” store varies according to (a) the dress and appearance of the presumed “robber,” (b) the gender of the victim of the “robbery,” and/or (c) the gender of the “eyewitness”; and (2) whether such recall varies according to S’s inventoried psychological “needs.” Ss viewed the videotape of the simulated robbery under one of four conditions representing variations in the dress and appearance (“status”) of the alleged offender and the gender of the alleged victim; completed the Personality Adjective Inventory; and responded to a questionnaire concerning details of the alleged offense. Results indicate that the single statistically significant source of variance in accuracy of recall of detail is the experimentally manipulated “status” of the perpetrator; gender of victim and of subject contribute significantly neither in isolation nor in interaction. Inventoried psychological needs for “autonomy” and “change” are significantly but negatively and weakly correlated with accuracy among women Ss, while “change” alone is so correlated among men Ss. Findings are interpreted in accordance with theory and research in experimental social psychology and psychological criminology bearing upon person perception and role expectancy in relation to behavioral stereotypes.

Affective Influences on Judgments and Behavior in Organizations: An Information Processing Perspective

This article reviews and integrates recent research in experimental social psychology and organizational behavior demonstrating the pervasive influence that affective states or moods have on judgments, decision making, and behavior in organizations. An information processing theory, the Affect Infusion Model (AIM) is described that can account for many of the empirical findings and also provides a promising theoretical base for future research in this area. The article reviews a range of experimental and applied studies consistent with the predictions of this model, demonstrating the role of information processing strategies in moderating affective influences on organizational behavior. Specifically, we discuss the influence of affect on such work-related behaviors as worker motivation, creativity and performance, interpersonal judgments and communication, performance appraisal judgments and selection interviews, organizational spontaneity, employee flexibility and helpfulness, absenteeism, and bargaining and negotiation behaviors. The implications of the information processing approach for understanding the influence of affect on organizational behaviors are discussed, and we argue for the greater integration of affect into contemporary theorizing and research in organizational settings.

Research and publication trends in experimental social psychology: 1971–1980—a thematic analysis of the journal of experimental social psychology, the european journal of social psychology, and the zeifschrift für soziaipsychologie

AbstractThe present study was designed to map out the area of research in experimental social psychology during the past decade. First of all, we found a broad range of topics that can be grouped info 21 general content domains. Theories in Social Psychology, Group Processes and Social Interaction, Social Judgement, Personality Variables and Specific Social Behaviour as well as Attitudes were the jive most widely researched fields of study. During the ten‐year period 1971–1980 Attribution Theory showed a significant increase in the number of articles published. Cooperation and Conflict as well as Risky‐Ship are lines of research which have nearly been abandoned. Finally, in rigorous experimental social psychology the analysis of Social Problems is evidently underrepresented. But a survey of the literature on Social Problems in the Psychological Abstracts from 1971 to 1980 revealed that social psychologists are currently serving both theoretical and practical ends.

The application of computer systems to research in experimental social psychology

The application of a laboratory computer system to research in experimental social psychology is discussed. An experiment designed to study the nonverbal communication patterns in humans is discussed with special emphasis on the automation of data collecting and data scoring procedures through the utilization of programs written for an Apple II computer system.

Experimental Research As Practical Action: Stooge Detection And Bias*

A discussion of experimental research as practical action applies the ethnomethodological critique to research in experimental social psychology. While research on demand characteristics may meet some of the ethnomethodological criticisms, it may not provide a set of exemplars around which the practical activity of experimentation can be organized. “Stooge detection” is a practical problem often faced by experimenters. My data suggest that stooge detection may, in certain circumstances, be a member's strategy for dealing with a problematic experimental setting. This view has implications for notions of experimental “bias”.

Cross‐cultural research in experimental social psychology

Cross‐cultural research in experimental social psychology

Decision theory in consumer research

Describes the thinking that went into a piece of experimental research in social psychology that is still in the planning stage. Discusses the potential market for a newspaper: how many read the paper?; how many read it now?; and of those who could but aren't reading it – why? Posits that existing kinds of research did not seem to have helped very much to solve the problem stated. States the use of statistical decision theory is the way to fix this problem. Proposes that if values and probabilities are put together something powerful and effective should arise. Concludes that the model herein takes care of values and probabilities but not of instigations or constraints.