KHS Psychology



Choose one of the following projects to complete individually or with partner(s) - 3 max in a group:

Option 1:  Social Norms

1. According to social psychologists, our behavior is often controlled by unwritten standards of what is socially acceptable in given situations.  We call these standards social norms.  Often it is only by behaving in a way that violates the normative standard that we become aware of its existence or potency.

PROCEDURE:

1. Select a social norm to break.*  (Choose from the list or think of your own.)

2. Break the norm and note the reactions of others as well as your own feelings while you are acting as the deviant.  Be sure to document your experiences through videotape, photographs, observation notes, tape recording, etc.  

3. Violate the norm at least 5 different times.  (If you are working with classmates, increase the number of trials by 5 per group member.)

4. Be sure to DEBRIEF anyone who needs to be informed that you are doing a social psychology project after violating your norm.

IDEAS FOR BREAKING A NORM:

¬  In a restaurant, café, or coffee shop, sit down at the same table with two strangers.  Strike up a conversation with them or study/eat/drink without acknowledging their presence.

¬  Enter a restaurant with a friend and sit at a table or counter seat recently vacated.  While you wait for new service, eat some of the food left over from the previous diner.  Eat something packaged (ex:  crackers) to avoid health concerns or have a confederate leave some food untouched and take a bite.

¬  At lunch, eat a banana horizontally, peeling back only the top strips of peel while holding it in both hands like a watermelon.

¬  For several days, whenever someone says, “Hi, how are you?” or any version of the question, give a substantive answer describing in detail how you are feeling or what you’ve been doing or thinking.  Try being perfectly honest or emphasize positive/negative things.

¬  When talking to another person, either stand very close (within a foot) or else maintain a distance of nearly three feet.

¬  Dress in a fashion that is atypical for you (ex:  wear a suit if you normally wear jeans).

 

Option 2:  Compliance

Fundamental to social life is the necessity for individuals to comply with the requests, needs, or demands, of other individuals at least some of the time.  A community where everyone did his or her own thing, oblivious or indifferent to what others wanted, would at first seem to promote individual freedom but might be more likely to create social anarchy and widespread frustration.  “Optimal” individual freedom often involves some measure of altruistic sacrifice in a community where others can be counted on to do likewise.  This balance between doing for others and doing what is best for oneself is indeed a tenuous one, since we know too well that it is easy for some people to be excessively compliant, to diminish their own independence by doing what they are told or, more subtly, what they are expected to do.

PROCEDURE:

 

1. Think of a scenario that involves a compliant request.* (Choose from the list or think of your own.)

2. Seek compliance to your request.  Be sure to document your experiences through videotape, photographs, notes, etc.  

3. Repeat the scenario at least 5 times.  (If you are working with classmates, increase the number of trials by 5 per group member.)

4. Be sure to DEBRIEF anyone who needs to be informed that you are doing a social psychology project after making your request and receiving a response.

 

IDEAS FOR SEEKING COMPLIANCE:

¬  Ask to make an international call on a stranger’s cell phone.

¬  As you drop your notebook and the pages fly out, request help from one or more strangers nearby.  You can do the same with a shopping bag with a bottom that easily opens up.  Or spill a box of paper clips and then ask for help collecting them.

¬  Pass out leaflets on a campus and try to get a passerby to help you distribute them.

¬  Take a camera to a shopping center and ask randomly selected individuals if they will do you a favor by letting you take their picture as they make a funny face, jump in the air, skip a rope, etc.

¬  Park a car by an expired meter and then ask passersby for money for the meter.

*You may not break a social norm or make a request if your actions involve a dangerous situation or could cause physical or emotional distress to others.  Nothing illegal, nothing immoral, and nothing that would indicate any sort of mental disorder.  Don’t be too obnoxious or too harmful to your subjects.  Attempt to repair any disturbances afterwards.  EXPLAIN. 

 

Also, always select your subjects in a highly safe public place (ex:  school) during daylight hours only.  It is preferable to have one or two other people with you as a safety precaution.

WRITE-UP (1 ½ -2 pgs.):

 Part I

Describe your process.

Predict (hypothesize)  an outcome

Part II

Discuss the variables and data collected.

Part III

Explain what you learned about social psychology and/or discuss how your experiment relates to theories presented in your textbook.

 

You must also include evidence that you conducted the experiment, such as videotape, photographs, a tape recording, detailed observation notes, data tables, etc.

 

Presentation requirements for ALL options:

 In a 3-5 minute presentation, describe your experiment set up, predictions, and observations/results

Use at least one visual aid

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download