Sample Exam Questions for "Introduction to Social Psychology"

Last updated:
13 Oct 2005

Short-answer

  1. What is social psychology?  What does it study?  What doesn't it study?  Be clear about what you consider to be the scope and domain of social psychology.
  2. Explain Allport's (1935) definition of social psychology, i.e., that it is the study of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of others.
  3. If you visited a local War Memorial at night, and you were alone…How would you feel?  What would you think?  What would you do?  Why would you have these reactions?  Comment in relation to social psychology.
  4. What is a "unit of analysis" in social psychology?
  5. Should the social psychology of animals be included within the scope of social psychology or not?  Why or why not?  Where would you draw the line?
  6. Suggest three examples of theory or research on person-to-person social psychological phenomena.
  7. Suggest three examples of theory or research on person-to-group social psychological phenomena.
  8. Suggest three examples of theory or research on group-to-person social psychological phenomena.
  9. Suggest three examples of theory or research on group-to-group social psychological phenomena.
  10. What is the difference between sociology and social psychology?
  11. What are the similarities and differences between social psychology and cognitive psychology?
  12. What are the similarities and differences between social psychology and personality psychology?

Multiple choice

Which of the following subjects of study in social psychology are observable?
a. attitudes
b. behavior
c. dreams
d. intentions

Which of the following refers to a "unit of analysis"?

1 = dyad; 2 = groups; 3 = individuals; 4 = behavior

a. 2 only
b. 3 only
c. 1, 2, and 3
d. 4 only

Social psychologists are interested in topics that include:
a. intentions and goals
b. instincts and reflexes
c. thoughts and feelings
d. a and c

Following its ‘crisis’ in the 1970s social psychology was strongly influenced by:
a. cognitive psychology
b. developmental psychology
c. sociology
d. cybernetics

What distinguishes sociology from social psychology is:
a. Their relative level of objectivity
b. social psychology’s emphasis on external validity
c. sociology’s emphasis on the social structure
d. sociology’s neglect of theory