Like any other science, social psychology uses methods: research, data processing and training.And are unique psychological science - therapeutic and educational methods.
Research Methods in Social Psychology
It is thanks to them that every science is enriched with new data on which to build a theory, enrich the theoretical basis of science with new facts.
for young science research uses borrowed from sociology and psychology methods:
- Monitoring - the first method of research used in psychology to describe the behavior and inner sense of self.It is still used in practice, but always in combination with other methods.
- Survey - the most common method of sociological research, provides a lot of information from a large number of people.However, these data are difficult to analyze (to display the percentage of respondents with different opinions).And its main drawback is the inability to evaluate the results in terms of reliability.Therefore, the survey is also used in combination with other methods, more reliable.
- The experiment is primarily characterized the possibility of changing circumstances (factors) to check for changes in people's behavior.Since the inception of psychology as a science experiments both on humans and rats (and sometimes their behavior is very similar to a human, for example, in the pack).But with the advent of ethical standards experimenters found themselves with their hands tied: it is impossible not to tell people about what quality is measured in the experiment, while not harming the reliability and purity of the experiment.But resourceful scientists can not give up the experiment as it is the most effective method, which is sometimes the most unique data about human behavior.
- Analysis of the products of human activity brings a lot of interesting data, especially in cases where it is impossible to use other methods (the person is no longer alive, or he does not go to the contact).The analysis is to find recurring patterns of, for example, works of art, documentation prepared by one person.Some of them show clearly pronounced personality traits object of study.
- Testing.Serious psychological tests provided for in the scale of their truthfulness (test questions to assess the reliability of the test results) allow deeper into the knowledge of the personality of one man, or to the knowledge of the quality of people with the same characteristics (eg, age, sex, social status).The tests are diagnostic tools, they bring valuable science data.Unfortunately, to date, very few tests meet the requirements to them as the scientific method of diagnosis.And to develop a new every vozmyotsja.Therefore, in the social psychology of them resorted quite rare.
Methods of Social Psychology (each one separately or in conjunction with others) are used to study the actual problems or interesting phenomenon.But to make a discovery, or bring in new science of information and facts, not enough simply to choose a method.Socio-psychological research meet the same requirements as the other sciences: requires a clear formulation of the object of research, hypothesis, analysis of available facts, confirmation or refutation of the hypothesis of mathematical calculations, verification of the findings.For these actions science resorts to the following group of methods.
social psychology methods for data processing
a result of research by psychologists receive number: reaction time after the introduction of a specific factor in the experiment, the level of symptoms of psychological quality and more.To process these data using mathematical methods: determination of average values for the group, and to confirm or refute the hypothesis - factor analysis.Also, use a method of expert estimations.And all this for the translation of numbers in the new values for psychology.
therapeutic methods of social psychology
Another group of methods aimed at the development of personal skills, or the properties for the treatment of clients.These include art therapy (treatment pattern), color therapy, physical techniques and psychodrama.
methods of psychology coaches
rarely isolated in a separate group of methods used by psychologists, trainers (conflict analysis, brainstorming, etc.).Their services are in demand in companies where it is important for people to interact, teamwork.Psychologists are able to due motivation to encourage employees to work effectively with colleagues.In this purpose, practitioners laid the whole raison d'etre of a science of social psychology.It is in the interaction in groups, collectives, we spend most of their lives, both at work and at home, in the family.We are seldom alone.So says a priority science - interactionism in social psychology.And it (science) is designed to study the processes of interaction with other people, to explain them and to empower people with the knowledge to optimize these processes.Therefore, among the methods of science is also called the methods of training and development groups (games and training), as performed under the supervision of psychologists trainers.
social psychology methods allow a scientific foundation for new knowledge, without them it would not exist as an interesting theoretical field.
