Social psychology (psychology)/Tutorials/Introduction

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This tutorial provides an introduction to the Social psychology unit, sociometric exercises to explore student social groupings, and helps to develop student understanding and interest in social psychology.

Overview

1. Use name tags
2. Tutor introduction - and contact details
3. Introduction to unit websites:
   • Free and open educational philosophy, using wikis
   • ucspace - for unit-specific information, e.g., dates, timeline, etc.
   • wikiversity - for generic information, e.g., theories, research, etc.
   • Google Groups - for group discussion (web/email forum)
   • Cross-links facilitate moving between sites
4. Discussion of assessment, particularly e-portfolio and essay topics.
5. For students to do:
   • Create a user account on Wikiversity and email the convener with your user name, real name, and student ID.
   • Join the discussion group.

Sociometric icebreaker

In an open space, meet and greet one another by name (a la "cocktail party") and have a chat (the room will soon become noisy). After some time, the tutor announces a grouping characteristic. People are to arrange themselves according to the group to which they best belong (for tips and ideas, see categories). Some suggested groupings are:

1. Eye colour (comment/discuss on use of eye color by Jane Elliott)
2. Number of siblings (note the psychology of birth order research)
3. Country of birth
4. Where you live (arrange by North, South, East, West - for ideas, see People Map)
5. Religion ("now for some harder ones!..." Organise according to actual beliefs (as opposed to 'offical' religion by birth) and inquire about why, strength of beliefs, etc.)
6. Political voting behaviour (Who do you vote for?)
7. Relationship status
8. Person-situation debate (along a line/continuum; describe the extreme positions; ask those at the fartherest extremes to explain their views)
9. "Computer-savviness".

Exploring social psychology

Individual

A student-generated definition of social psychology. What's your definition? Add it to your e-portfolio.

Individually write/brainstorm:

1. A unique definition of social psychology (this should not be a regurgitation of the lecture/textbook).
2. What you already know about social psychology (and closely related topics).
3. What you don't know (and would like to know).
4. Essay ideas and topic(s) you're interested in.

Small groups

In small groups (3 to 4), using three separate pieces of butchers paper, discuss, integrate and summarise:

1. A definition of social psychology
2. What your group knows about social psychology
3. What your group doesn't know (but would like to know) about social psychology.
4. Possible essay topics.

Large group discussion

If there are a small number of groups (e.g., ~3), then each group should share their responses/discussion of:

1. Definitions (tutor should help repeat, emphasise, and critique aspects of the definitions - common issues include not focusing on ABC (Affect, Behaviour, and Cognition), and lack of focus on individuals within a social context (e.g., having an overly sociological focus))
2. Areas of knowing
3. Areas of not knowing and curiousity
4. Possible essay questions

If there are a larger number of groups and/or lack of time, ask each group to share one of the four topics discussed.

Examples

A full example of student responses to this "exploring social psychology" group exercise.

See also

1. Assessment
2. Lecture: Introduction

External links

• Introduction Tutorial (Wilderdom; 2007)
• Introduction Tutorial (ucspace)