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+# 1. Introduction & Research Methods
+
+> PSYG 2504 Social Psychology
+
+What is social psychology:  
+The **scientific** study of the way in which people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the real or imagined presence of other people.
+
+## 1.1 Social Psychology focuses on the behavior of individuals
+
+Four core values to be scientific: 
+
+- Accuracy – in a careful, precise and error-free manner
+- Objectivity – free from bias
+- Skepticism – accept findings as accurate after verifying repeatedly
+- Open-mindedness – to change the viewpoints when evidence shows the inaccuracy of the viewpoints
+
+## 1.2 Social Psychology seeks to understand the causes of social behavior and thought
+
+We are not isolated from social and cultural influences.
+
+To understand the factors that shape the actions and thoughts of individuals in the social contexts.
+
+E.g. love, violence, helping…
+
+## 1.3 Social Psychology seeks to understand the causes of social behavior and thought
+
+### 1.3.1 The actions and characteristics of other people 
+
+**Our emotions, thoughts and behavior are affected by others.**
+
+When others are watching us (e.g. an attractive person looked at you at the canteen/ your lecturer stood next to you when you were having the examination)
+
+Others’ physical characteristics (e.g. tall/short; fat/slim; young/old; attractive/less attractive…)
+
+### 1.3.2 Cognitive processes
+
+**Engage in social cognition – to think about other persons.**
+
+*Infer* other people and then *affect* how we behave to them (i.e. your reactions in a situation will depend upon your memories of someone’s past behavior and your inferences about whether his/her explanation is really true)
+
+e.g. You are going to have lunch with your friend and she is late for an hour, how will you react when she says…
+She has totally forgotten? She had diarrhoea?
+
+### 1.3.3 Environmental variables
+
+**The physical environment influences our feelings,  thoughts and behaviors.**
+
+E.g. Do people become more aggressive and irritable when the weather is hot? Does exposure to a pleasant smell in the air make people happier?
+
+### 1.3.4 Biological factors
+
+**Comes from the Evolutionary Psychology – we now possess a large number of evolved psychological mechanisms that help us to deal with important problems relating to survival.**
+
+E.g. attractiveness (women rate sense of humor very high on the list of desirable characteristics in potential romantic partners)  
+ = Signal high intelligence, more attractive, interest in forming new relationships
+
+## 1.4 Social Psychology aims to search for basic principles under the ever-changing social world
+
+- Develop basic principles that are accurate regardless of when and where they applied or tested.
+- Social psychologists also recognize that cultures differ greatly and the social work keeps on changing (e.g. independence or interdependence)
+  - E.g. Would the determinants of attraction change after the advancement of technology, e.g. online dating? Social media?
+
+### 1.4.1 Research as a route to increase knowledge
+
+#### Systematic observation 
+
+Mainly by *naturalistic observation*.
+
+The researcher just simply record what is happening in each context.  
+He/she would make no attempt to change the behavior of the people being observed
+
+####  Survey Method
+
+- Advantages:   
+  - Easy to gather information
+  - Can quickly get the opinions
+  - Large sample size
+- Disadvantages:
+  - Social desirability
+
+####  Correlation
+
+- Search for *relationships* between two events
+- Make *predictions* 
+- Represents in a *number*, from $-1$ to $+1$
+  - Positive correlation: when one variable increases, the other also increases
+  - Negative correlation: when one variable increases, the other decreases
+- NOT implying causation
+
+ #### Experimental Method
+
+One or more factors (IVs) are systematically changed to determine whether the changes will affect one or more factors (DVs)
+
+- Independent variables (IVs): the factor/variable that is changed/manipulated in an experiment
+- Dependent variables (DVs): the factor/variable that is measured in an experiment
+
+Researchers vary the independent variable (e.g., the number of bystanders people think are present) and observe what effect that has on the dependent variable (e.g., whether people help).
+
+- Random assignment – the participant must have an equal chance to be exposed to each level of the IVs
+- Internal validity – Making sure that nothing besides the independent variable can affect the dependent variable
+- External validity – The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
+
+### 1.4.2 Research vs. human rights
+
+#### Informed consent 
+
+**The research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate**
+
+Informed consent should include:
+
+1. A brief description of the purpose and procedure of the research, including the expected duration of the study
+2. A statement of any risks or discomfort associated with participation
+3. A guarantee of anonymity and the confidentiality of records
+   The identification of the researcher and of where to receive information about subjects’ rights or questions about the study
+4. A statement that participation is completely voluntary and can be terminated at any time without penalty
+5. A statement of alternative procedures that may be used
+6. A statement of any benefits or compensation provided to the subjects and the number of subjects involved
+7. An offer to provide a summary of findings
+
+#### Debriefing
+
+1. Provide necessary information (e.g. yourselves, nature, hypotheses) about the experiment.
+2. Clear any misunderstanding or misconceptions
+   Explain why deception was used (if any)
+3. Minimize psychological harm or uncomfortable feelings aroused from the experiment
+4. Make sure they leave with positive feelings
+5. Appreciate and thank them for their contribution and help
+   Let them know where to get further information