Skills

Psychology 9: Social Psychology

10 weeks · 3 milestones

How other people shape what we think and do. Course 9 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

3 milestones

Weigh a classic study

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapter 12 and the Noba module on conformity and obedience. Self-check: chapter 12 review questions. Then make a critique of one classic social study: its method, its ethics, and what later replications found.

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a critique of one classic social study: its method, its ethics, and what later replications found, with every source cited.

What gets checked

The method is described correctly.
Ethical problems are named.
Replications are cited and weighed.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A critique of one classic social study: its method, its ethics, and what later replications found.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is described correctly.
Ethical problems are named.
Replications are cited and weighed.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Run a short social survey

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Work through the MIT 9.70 readings on attitudes. Self-check: chapter 12 review questions. Then make an anonymous survey experiment (for example a framing effect) with random assignment, run on consenting adults. If you collect data from people: adults only (18+), consent first, answers anonymous, and no health or clinical questions. Under 18? Use an open dataset; never collect data yourself.

Proof required

Link the public repo with an anonymous survey experiment (for example a framing effect) with random assignment, run on consenting adults: the experiment code, a link to run it, and the anonymous data from your test runs. Add the consent text you used.

What gets checked

Assignment is random.
The analysis matches a plan written first.
Data from people follows the rules: adults, consent, anonymous, no health or clinical data.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

An anonymous survey experiment (for example a framing effect) with random assignment, run on consenting adults.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Assignment is random.
The analysis matches a plan written first.
The result is reported with its effect size.
Data from people follows the rules: adults, consent, anonymous, no health or clinical data.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present your survey as a poster

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Use your survey results from the last unit. Self-check: chapter 12 review questions. Then make a one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits.

Proof required

Add a one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits as a PDF and name the people who reviewed it with you, with their questions.

What gets checked

The method is clear enough to repeat.
Limits are stated.
Reviewer questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is clear enough to repeat.
Limits are stated.
Reviewer questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 9: Social Psychology →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Weigh a classic study

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a critique of one classic social study: its method, its ethics, and what later replications found, with every source cited.

What gets checked

The method is described correctly.
Ethical problems are named.
Replications are cited and weighed.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A critique of one classic social study: its method, its ethics, and what later replications found.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is described correctly.
Ethical problems are named.
Replications are cited and weighed.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Run a short social survey

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Proof required

What gets checked

Assignment is random.
The analysis matches a plan written first.
Data from people follows the rules: adults, consent, anonymous, no health or clinical data.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

An anonymous survey experiment (for example a framing effect) with random assignment, run on consenting adults.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Assignment is random.
The analysis matches a plan written first.
The result is reported with its effect size.
Data from people follows the rules: adults, consent, anonymous, no health or clinical data.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Present your survey as a poster

3 weeks (about 5 hrs/week)

Use your survey results from the last unit. Self-check: chapter 12 review questions. Then make a one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits.

Proof required

Add a one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits as a PDF and name the people who reviewed it with you, with their questions.

What gets checked

The method is clear enough to repeat.
Limits are stated.
Reviewer questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A one-page poster of your survey: question, method, result and limits.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 9: Social Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The method is clear enough to repeat.
Limits are stated.
Reviewer questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.