Social: Practical Investigation

One practical research exercise to gather data relevant to topics covered in social psychology. This practical research exercise must adhere to ethical principles in both content and intention. In conducting the practical research exercise, students must:
• design and conduct a questionnaire to gather both qualitative and quantitative data to look for a difference in the data
• consider questionnaire construction, sampling decisions and ethical issues
• collect and present an analysis of quantitative data using measures of central tendency, bar graph and frequency table
• collect and present an analysis of qualitative data using thematic analysis
• consider strengths and weaknesses of the questionnaire
• write up the procedure, results and discussion section of a report.
Suitable examples:
• A questionnaire to see if males or females perceive themselves to be more obedient.
• An investigation into whether there is a tendency to focus on male protagonists in sporting literature.

The 2016 Practical: Cross-cultural attitudes towards older people in our communities

The 2017 Practical: Cross-cultural attitudes towards people who are homeless

The 2018 Practical: Cross-cultural differences in obedience to authority

2015 Examiners’ Report: Advice for answering exam questions on the social practical:

If you are asked to suggest an improvement to the PROCEDURE of your practical, do NOT suggest changing to a different research METHOD. You have to stick with the method of questionnaire as this is the method we have to use for the social practical. You need to suggest changes to the design, distribution or analysis of the questionnaire. Also don;t say you would change to qualitative instead of quantitative data or vice versa, as the specification says you must collect both in this practical.

Assessment Questions: 

  1. You have learned about surveys as a research method. As part of the course requirements for social psychology you will have conducted a practical investigation using a survey.

Describe the aim of your survey (2)

Model answer: Aim

2. Give an example of one closed and one open question from your survey (2)

Model answer: open and closed

3. Describe how you analysed the qualitative data from your survey (4)

Model answer: qualitative data analysis

5. In your studies of social psychology you have conducted a practical investigation. Describe how you carried out the quantitative analysis of the data you gathered. (4)

4. Evaluate your survey, (your evaluation may include validity, reliability, subjectivity) (5)

Model answer: Evaluate social practical

6. Suggest one improvement you could make to the procedure of your practical investigation. (3)