Psychology in Action Part V

Instructor Dr…..

Abstract The following research personal derives from Solomon Asch's conformity study. The study reflects how human subjects conform to the majority social influence of their peers. The study design was in a controlled laboratory experiment. The following proposal is to determine if subjects will decrease or increase the level of conformity outside a controlled environment.

Psychology in Action Part V There are benefits of a controlled laboratory experiment which researches control the variables such as Asch's Opinions and Social Pressures study. The study does have further questions and follow-up studies to determine the magnitude of conformity as a social phenomenon. The social phenomenon of group conformity in a controlled environment has provided further issues to examine. Even though conformity may not increase outside a controlled environment, subjects may conform more outside a controlled environment because subjects conform easily inside a controlled environment.
Research Proposal

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Subject: Research proposal

Research Question: Will subjects be more willing to conformity outside a controlled environment?
Thesis: Even though conformity may not increase outside of a controlled environment, subjects may conform more outside a controlled environment because subjects conform easily inside a controlled environment.
Proposed Research Topic: Will subjects be more willing to conformity outside a controlled environment?

Purposes Asch, S. E. (1955) claimed subjects would yield to conformity once influenced by the majority of their peers. The possible situation to be determined is the possibility of conformity increasing outside of a controlled environment. Viewing the subjects outside the controlled environment with member of their peer groups will allow for a realistic picture. The realistic environment will further determine how subjects are influence by member of their peer group. Thus, allowing the viewing of the group as a unit and measuring how their interactions are enabling or constraining the decision-making process. Particularly the focus is on how subjects are influenced to make decisions once peer pressure is applied.
Theoretical Framework The study will be guided generally in the direction of the previous works of Asch, S. E. (1955) and his Opinions and social pressure study. The goal is to enhance the findings in Arch (1955) Opinions and Social Pressures study. The current theory is that human subjects conform under social influences of a majority inside a controlled environment. The theory in question is will subjects increase the levels of conformity in a natural setting. After reviewing both findings thus will provide a clearer representation of the effects that, the social influence does have effects on human subject. The social influence on subject's behavior in a natural setting may influence additional studies. The researchers can build from the possible similarities, and connections that occur in both studies and there findings. The observation study will be conducted on a college campus where real life groups have formed. The groups observed will be men and women. The group members will vary in ages from twenties to thirties. The observation will take place in areas where groups tend to meet. Some possible choices to observe subjects behavior may include lunchroom, sporting effects, and outside between classes. The direct observation method will allow the researcher to observe but not change the group interaction.
Methodology

The research requires data collection from Asch's Opinions and social pressure study, which arrives at conformity. The use of those finding will guide the following research question: 1). Will subjects be more willing to conformity outside of a controlled environment? The research will aim to answer additional questions as follow: 2). What extent does the conformity levels increase. 3). Will the size of the group make a difference? 4). Which group has more conforming behaviors men, women, or mixed groups? The appropriate method to investigate the issue is direct observation of the group discussions. Once the observation is complete, the researcher will interview the subjects and ask follow-up questions for a qualitative evaluation. a. Shall we discuss the conversation you just had with the group on .... day? b. What were you thinking during the time you gave your response to the group's questions? c. Do you see yourself as a confident person? d. What were you tiring to accomplish when you agreed to do X instead of Y? e. What were you thinking when you agreed or disagreed with the group's decision? f. When you agreed to the group's decision, how would you describe yourself as a person? (Possible responses: shy, confident, easy going)

The researcher will observe the subjects for three hours per week for five weeks, focusing mostly on conversations and behavioral response, especially those conversations in which the group address topics that would engage in conformity. The researcher will interview group members singularly shortly after possible conformity has taken place. The interviews will not be formal. The questions will start out germane. The researcher needs to test the subject's ability to provide an adequate response The questions will relate to why he or she chose to conform to the group decision. The goal is to journal the subject's response without any bias information supplied by the researcher to the subject. The researcher will create an analysis of the direct observation field experiment making notes and review interview notes, and compare with the findings guided by Opinions and social pressure Asch, S. E. (1955).
Objectives the Follow-up Study May Attempt to Achieve
Outline
Introduction
1. Conduct a natural observation study. A. Observe the groups 1. Observe the groups when engaging in conversations 2. Set a length of time to observe the subjects. B. Interview group members 1. Ask test questions 2. Ask subject related questions C. Create an analysis 1. Review notes from observation 2. Review notes from the interview

Conclusion The benefits of doing a controlled laboratory experiment clearly represented in Asch's study, but the magnitude of the study should be researched using other tools and methods. Allowing the social phenomenon of group conformity to be observed in a natural setting may yield results of further studies to test the limits to which subjects will or will not conform.

|Topical Area |Response | |
|Discuss the role social cognition played in the selected study. | Social cognition pertains to how subjects think. In the Opinions and social | |
| |pressure study the subjects method of thinking was to rely on the feedback from a | |
| |member of the group. The ways the subjects decided to response to the questions were | |
| |based off the group response. | |
| | | |
| |mental processes such as memory, thinking, problem solving | |
|Evaluate the impact of the selected study on social psychology. | | |
|Discuss the study’s implications for industrial organizational psychology. | | |

|Content |Comments/Points: |
|40 %[pic] |Highlights left indicate |
| |“needs improvement.” |
|All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. | |
| | |
|Discuss the role social cognition played in the selected study. | |
|Evaluate the effect of the selected study on social psychology. | |
|Discuss the study’s implications for industrial organizational psychology. | |
|A 1,050- to 1,750-word proposal in which you create an original proposal for a follow up to the selected study that | |
|includes: | |
|A research question | |
|A description of the proposed research methodology | |
|A description of the theoretical framework which supports the hypothesis | |
|An outline of the objectives the follow-up study may attempt to achieve | |
|Arrange for a peer review of your proposal by at least one of your classmates. | |
| | |
|Always include a title page, abstract, clear introduction and thesis, conclusion, references page, and in-text | |
|citations. | |
| | |
|Additional Comments: | |
|ORGANIZATION | |
|30 % | |
|All key elements are covered in a substantive way: | |
|Clear Introduction | |
|Thesis outlines specific points and previews the paper | |
|Conclusion sums up the paper well | |
|Paragraph length is way too long or too short | |
|Responses need greater critical thinking, logical flow and more focus topic selection. | |
|Consider restructuring paragraphs | |
|Transitions are needed | |
|Headings are incorporated to clarify different points | |
|Review changes made to: | |
|APA AND WRITING | |
|30 % | |
|All key elements are covered in a substantive way: | |
|Rework your Abstract | |
|Needs third person narrative | |
|Primary sources are lacking | |
|In text citations needed (Author, year) or (Author, year, p. #) | |
|Reference page needs more work | |
|APA formatting lacking | |
|The paper contains three to five peer-reviewed sources and (2) by a germinal author. | |
|Headers and headings are included | |
|Review changes made to: | |
| | |
|Writing: | |
| | |
|Proof errors, such as: | |
|Sub/verb agreement issues | |
|Transitions needed | |
|Sentences are awkward making certain points unclear | |
|Logical flow needs work with: | |
|Punctuation issues: | |

Write a 1,050- to 1,750-word paper in which you create an original proposal for a follow up to the selected study. The proposal must include:
• A research question
• A description of the proposed research methodology
• A description of the theoretical framework which supports the hypothesis
• An outline of the objectives the follow-up study may attempt to achieve
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines

• Discuss the role social cognition played in the selected study.
• Evaluate the effect of the selected study on social psychology.
• Discuss the study’s implications for industrial organizational psychology

References
Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific America, 193(5), 31-35 Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu

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WEEK 6 RUBRIC