Methodological Issues in Applied Social Psychology

✍ Scribed by Leonard Bickman (auth.), Fred B. Bryant, John Edwards, R. Scott Tindale, Emil J. Posavac, Linda Heath, Eaaron Henderson, Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer US
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 320
• Series: Social Psychological Applications to Social Issues 2
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Many authors have argued that applying social psychology to the solution of real­ world problems builds better theories. Observers have claimed, for example, that of human behavior applied social psychology reveals more accurate principles because its data are based on people in real-life circumstances (Helmreich, 1975; Saxe & Fine, 1980), provides an opportunity to assess the ecological validity of generalizations derived from laboratory research (Ellsworth, 1977; Leventhal, 1980), and discloses important gaps in existing theories (Fisher, 1982; Mayo & LaFrance, 1980). Undoubtedly, many concrete examples can be mustered in support of these claims. But it also can be argued that applying social psychology to social issues and problems builds better research methods. Special methodological problems arise and new perspectives on old methodological problems emerge when re­ searchers leave the laboratory and tackle social problems in real-world settings. Along the way, we not only improve existing research techniques but also devel­ op new research tools, all of which enhance our ability to obtain valid results and thereby to understand and solve socially relevant problems. Indeed, Campbell and Stanley's (1966) seminal work on validity in research design grew out of the application of social science in field settings. In this spirit, the principal aim of this volume is to present examples of methodological advances being made as researchers apply social psychology in real-life settings.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii
Resource Planning for Applied Research....Pages 1-24
Problem Identification in Social Intervention Research....Pages 25-42
Ethical Issues in Community-Based Research and Intervention....Pages 43-63
Lessons from the Meta-Analysis of Quasi-Experiments....Pages 65-81
A Structured Diary Methodology for the Study of Daily Events....Pages 83-109
Time Series Methods in Applied Social Research....Pages 111-133
Structural Equations Modeling....Pages 135-158
Research without Control Groups....Pages 159-175
Statistical Analysis for Single-Case Designs....Pages 177-197
Qualitative Activist Research....Pages 199-218
“Thought Experiments” and Applied Social Psychology....Pages 219-238
Computer Networks in Field Research....Pages 239-268
Communicating Applied Social Psychology to Users....Pages 269-294
Back Matter....Pages 295-304

✦ Subjects

Personality and Social Psychology