Applied Social Psychology

Paper Code: 
PSY 421
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives (COs):

This course will enable the students to –

 

  1. To help student understand social problems and gain knowledge about intervention strategies.
  2. To learn how social psychology is used in applied settings to understand and ameliorate social problems.

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

Learning Outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSY 421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applied Social Psychology

The students will be able to –

CO130: Understand the key issues and theoretical concepts related to applied social psychology and compare and contrast the research methodologies used in the scientific study of human Social behaviour.

CO131: Understand the applications of social psychology to social issues like gender, environment, health, intergroup conflicts, etc.

CO132: Demonstrate the ability to articulate independently and creatively about human Social behaviour and the cultural influences that affect our behaviour.

CO133: Develop an awareness of the role of mass media in shaping public psyche, beliefs and perceptions about social realities and building an informed and critical perspective

CO134: Develop an understanding to enable sustainable living pertaining to social influence processes particularly the influence of materialism and wealth.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks, Field practical

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Foundations of Applied Social Psychology:
  • Nature
  • Research Methods
  • Methods of Data Collection-Self Report Methods
  • Observational Methods
  • Research Designs-True Experiments
  • Experiments
  • Correlational Studies
  • Descriptive Studies
  • Qualitative Research Methods-Creswell’s Research Methods

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Intervention and Evaluation:
  • Design of Interventions- Nature
  • Key Tasks and Delivery
  • Evaluation of Interventions
  • Reasons for Evaluation
  • Types of Evaluation
  • Importance of Research Design in Evaluating Interventions
  • An Intervention Example with Steps
  • Influencing Social Policy
  • Intervention Issues

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Applying Social Psychology to the Arenas of Life I:
  • Applying Social Psychology to the Media
  • Effect of Media Violence
  • Effect of Pornography
  • Affect of Political News Coverage
  • Applying Social Psychology to the Court
  • Eyewitness Testimony
  • Jurors as Individuate & Jury as a Group
  • Factors Influencing Juror Judgments.  

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Applying Social Psychology to the Arenas of Life II:
  • Applying Social Psychology to the Community- Definition
  • Origin
  • Sense of Community
  • Diversity versus Prejudice and Stigmatization
  • Bringing about Social Change
  • Applying Social Psychology to Diversity-Cultural Diversity
  • Demographics
  • Challenges
  • Conflict and Conflict Management  

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Social Psychology and Sustainable Future:
  • Social Psychology of Environment,
  • Personal Space & Psychology of Crowding;
  • Enabling Sustainable Living;
  • Social Psychology of Materialism & Wealth. 
Essential Readings: 
  • Myers, David G., Sahajpal, P., Behera, P. (2010). Social Psychology (10th ed). New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education (India) Private Limited.
  • Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J.A., & Coutts, L.A. (2012). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J.A., & Coutts, L.A. (2016). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (3rd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
References: 
  • Aronson, E. Ellsworth, P., Calsmith, J.M. & Gonzales, M.H. (1990). Methods of Research in Social Psychology. NY: McGraw Hill.
  • Baron, Robert A., Branscombe, Nyla, Byrne, R., Donn, Erwin (2008). Social psychology. Delhi: Pearson
  • Baron, Robert A. Branscombe, Nyla R. Donn, Byrne, Bhardwaj, Gopa (2010). Social Psychology. (12th ed.) Delhi: Pearson.
  • Baumeister, R. F., Bushman, B. J. (2014). Social Psychology and Human Nature (3rd ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 
  • Bunk, Abraham, P. and Vugt, Mark Van (2013). Applying Social Psychology: From Problems to Solutions (2nd ed.). Netherlands: Sage.
  • Feldman, R.S. (1995). Social Psychology : N.J. Prentice Hall. 
  • Kool, V. K. and Agarwal, Rita (2008). Applied Social Psychology: A Global Perspective. New Delhi: Atlantic.
  • Misra, G.(1990). Applied Social Psychology in India. ND : Sage.
  • Ruscher, J.B. (2001). Prejudiced Communication: A Social Psychological Perspective. New York: The Guilford Press.
  • Semin, G.R. and Fiedler, K. (1996). Applied Social Psychology. Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Vago, S. (1990). Social Change. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Academic Year: 
2019-20
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