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Why change to a themantic approach? Here are four of the key benefits I can see in switching to a themantic approach: It reduces the amount of content knowledge the students need to remember Less content means more time for developing critical thinking and other skills (e.g. writing, research, communication, collaboration, etc.) It increases depth of knowledge and understanding It increases options …

Discuss two errors in attributions. Self-Serving Bias Fundamental Attribution Error It is important that you can define both of these attribution errors. It is also important that you are using, and that you understand terms like situational and dispositional factors. These are important to understand throughout the whole socio-cultural level of analysis. Self-Serving Bias: When we attribute our success to disposition …

In the IB Psychology course there are a range of theories that students need to be familiar with. But it’s easy to dive straight into the complex assignments like evaluating these theories, and to overlook asking the simple questions. Here are just some of the theories that may be relevant* to the IB Psych’ course: Social Learning Theory Social Identity …

Social Identity Theory (SIT) is a theory that was proposed by Tajfel and Turner in the 1970s and that attempts to explain intergroup behaviours. More specifically, an original aim of SIT was to help explain situational factors in behaviour. The theory consists of four interrelated concepts: social categorization social identity social comparison and positive distinctiveness. These concepts outline the various …

What are the allocation methods used in independent samples experiments? The allocation method simply refers to how the researchers decide who receives what treatment in an experiment. There are two ways to allocate participants: a) Randomly b) Selectively Random allocation is when the researchers divide the participants and allocate them to certain groups using a random method. For instance, in an …

The following list is a pretty comprehensive list of key terms for research methods in psychology. Please post a comment/question if you notice double-ups, errors and/or omissions.  “True” Experiment: this is an experiment that takes place in a controlled environment and the researcher/s manipulate the independent variable to create conditions (e.g. treatment and control groups) to measure the dependent variable. …

Here’s an example SAQ that explains HM’s Case Study. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHrmiy4W9C0&w=560&h=315] You can find more information here… Here’s a wonderfully melo-dramatic re-creation video that tells the story of HM from before his operation to the conclusions of the case study on HM: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mvx-mAUJL8&w=560&h=315] Here is a link to a website that you might find interesting. It is to do with …

Background Information Humans are social animals, formign groups and strong bonds naturally. As such, it’s not hard to see the many ways that belonging to a group is important. Conformity is one effect that can happen as a result of this need to belong. Conformity is when behaviour is modified in order to fit in with a larger group. Solomon …

It’s not essential that you know about normative and informational social influence for this course, but it might help you understand the factors influencing conformity better if you do. One explanation for conformity proposed by social psychologists is normative social influence. This means that we alter our behaviour to fit in with the group because we have a natural desire …

Jigsaw Classroom to Reduce Violence Sherif’s Realistic Conflict Theory What is goal interdependence? What did Sherif do to reduce conflict between the groups? In the Robber’s Cave Experiment, Sherif and his colleagues divided boys into two groups and encouraged competition between the two. To test under what circumstances the stereotypes and conflict between the groups (Eagles and Rattlers) could be …