Microsoft Word Chapter 1 done doc

1.5 REFERENCES : 
 
1. Baron, R. A., Byrne, D. and Branscombe, N. R. (2006). Social 
Psychology. Prentice-Hall India: New Delhi.
2. Feldman, R. S. (2001). Social Psychology. Prentice Hall.
3. Buss, D. M. (1995). Evolutionary Psychology: A new paradigm 
for psychological science. Psychological Inquiry, 6, 1-30. 
4. Buss, David M. (Ed.) (2005). The Handbook of Evolutionary 
Psychology. Hoboken, NJ. 

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2 
 
 
RESEARCH AS THE ROUTE TO 
INCREASED KNOWLEDGE 
 
 
Unit Structure: 
2.0 Objectives 
2.1 Introduction 
2.2 
Understanding Research Methods 
2.2.1 Systematic 
observation 
2.2.2 
Correlation 
2.2.3 The experimental method 
2.2.4 Interpreting research results: the role of statistics 
2.3 
The Role of Theory in Social Psychology 
2.4 
The Quest for Knowledge and the Rights of Individuals: 
Seeking an Appropriate Balance 
2.5 
Let us sum up 
2.6 References 
 
2.0 OBJECTIVES : 
 
By the end of this unit you will be able to : 
• Explain basic research methods in social psychology. 
• Understand the role of theory in social psychology. 
• Discuss ethics of research in social psychology. 
2.1 INTRODUCTION : 
 
Research is the back bone of any scientific information. 
Social psychology has good backup of research studies conducted 
in diverse field. To understand the subject matter in social 
psychology, insight in to the research methods is of considerable 
help. Though there are many research methods of investigation, 
social psychology employs some of them more frequently. These 
methods include careful observations in natural settings, 
correlational research methods and most importantly experimental 
methods. Theory plays an important role in any given subject. The 
major role of theory is to guide research. However, the quest for 
knowledge should consider the rights of individuals in all research 
endeavours.

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