Learning Objectives

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Offer a definition of social psychology and discuss the types of issues this field considers.
Explain why social psychology is based upon the scientific approach rather than common sense.
Discuss some of the major contemporary research trends in social psychology.
Describe the difference between social thought and social behavior and the complex interplay between the two.
Give a general definition of the growing field of social neuroscience.
Consider the advantages and limitations to systematic observations and the survey method.
Describe the correlational method including the meaning of correlational coefficients and the key drawback to this method.
Outline the nature of the experimental method, including all of the key components to this methodology.
Explain the basic purpose of inferential statistics and meta-analysis.
Define the term, "theory," and describe the procedure involved in building theories.
Consider when and how deception is used in social psychological research.
Discuss the importance of informed consent and debriefing in social psychological research.

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