Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Psychology and Sociology

Advantages of Focus Groups

• Synergism: When a group of people with similar interests discuss an issue together, they are likely to produce richer insights, a wider range of information, and innovative ideas than individual responses obtained privately.
• Snowballing: In a group discussion, one person's comment often triggers a chain reaction from the other participants and generates more views.
• Stimulation: Once the focus group discussion is underway, the general level of excitement over the topic increases, and a large number of respondents want to express their ideas and expose their feelings.
• Security: Because of the homogeneity of composition, focus group participants often share similar feelings. This enables them to feel comfortable and uninhibited

• Cognition: All mental activities associated with thinking, remembering, and communicating. We use concepts (mental group of similar objects, events, ideas, people. Ex: chairs mean many items. Prototypes mental image or best example of a category. Easy method to sorting items into categories. Ex: robin/bird.
• Strategies of Cognition: Algorithm (logical rule of procedure/step by step/guarantees a solution to a problem. Heuristic (simpler strategy/speedier than algorithm/more error-prone. Insight (not a strategy based, flash of inspiration, solves a problem.
• Obstacles of Cognition: Confirmation Bias: Peter Wason, predisposes to verify/search information that supports our perceptions and ignore or contradictory evidence. Mental Set: Fixation, prevent

Understanding the Job Evaluation Process

Job evaluation is performed internally and does not take into account the wage rates in the marketplace or what other firms are doing. It focuses only on the value of the tasks that make up each job.

The 6 Steps of Job Evaluation

1. Conduct Job Analysis: The study of what, how, and why of various tasks that make up the job.
2. Determine Job Specifications: Identify the worker characteristics that an employee must have to perform the job successfully.
3. Write Job Descriptions: Identify, define, and describe each job in terms of duties, responsibilities, and working conditions.
4. Rate the Worth of All Jobs: Use a predetermined system to assess the value of all positions.
5. Create a Job Hierarchy: A listing of jobs in terms

Mental Health: Conditions, Assessment, and Treatments

Roles: Psychiatrist and Psychologist

Psychiatrist — prescribes medications for treating mental illness. Psychologist — performs research and administers diagnostic tests; typically cannot prescribe medications.

Assessment: History and Physical Exam

Medical history: positive family history, depression, substance abuse.

Physical exam: may be inconclusive, confusing, inconsistent, or illogical in presentation.

Mood Disorders

• Depression — feelings of grief or persistent sadness.
• Bipolar disorder — recurrent cycles of depression and elation that affect normal life.
• Seasonal affective disorder — symptoms that occur during winter months.

Attention and Impulse Disorders

ADHD — decreased ability... Continue reading "Mental Health Conditions, Assessment, and Medications" »

Examine the role of two cultural dimensions on behaviour

Info:

Cultural Dimensions: are traits that are characteristic to certain cultures. The theorist of the Cultural Dimensions theory, Geert Hofstede, conducted a massive study across 50 countries over 10 years to test his theory. At the conclusion of his study, Hofstede observed four dimensions.

• Individualism-Collectivism - where the individual self is more important than societal connections
• Masculinity-Femininity - “masculinity focuses on achievement, heroism, assertiveness, material rewards for success; femininity focuses on cooperation, modesty, caring for the weaker and for a good quality of life”
• Power Distance - “the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and

Core Concepts of Motivation in Learning

Key Theories of Motivation

Behavioral Definitions

Motivation is defined as “the anticipation of reinforcement.” Human beings pursue a goal because they perceive a reward for doing so. This reward serves to reinforce behavior, causing it to persist.

Drive Theory

Those who view human drives as fundamental to behavior claim that motivation stems from basic innate drives. Innate predispositions such as exploration, manipulation, activity, stimulation, knowledge, and ego enhancement act to probe the unknown, control our environment, be physically active, be receptive to mental, emotional, or physical stimulation, and build our self-esteem.

Hierarchy of Needs Theory (Maslow)

Motivation progresses from the satisfaction... Continue reading "Psychological Theories of Motivation and Effective Child Pedagogy" »

Essential Qualities of Great Leadership

• Sincere enthusiasm: true enthusiasm for a business (its products and its mission cannot be faked
• Integrity: acknowledging mistakes, putting safety and quality first
• Great Communication Skills: motivate, instruct, and discipline
• Loyalty: reciprocal and in a position of service to team members
• Decisiveness: make decisions and take risks
• Managerial competence: not just being good at their jobs
• Empowerment: have faith in ability to train and develop employees
• Charisma: approachable, friendly, and caring for others

The Trap of the Charismatic Leader

Charisma only wins people's attention, but credibility is crucial. Use scientifically validated assessments instead of relying on intuition. Narcissists perform well in... Continue reading "Essential Qualities of Great Leadership and Conflict Management Skills" »

Sensation & Perception

Brain & Learning

Theories & Concepts

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) :

1- Alarm Phase: consists of perceiving a stressor, which then triggers the fight or flight response

2- Resistance: the resulting changes in your body are collectively referred to as the resistance phase. Also known as the adaption phase due to adapting to the new situation (Brain & Body) 3- Exhaustion Phase: the body starts to eventually become exhausted because it’s limited resources of dealing with stress. Damage to body more risk, medical problems.

Sleep:

The Naturally recurring experience during which normal consciousness is suspended, there are five different stages of sleep during the night, they cycle through the night Stage 1: Hypnogogic Sleep: The initial stage of sleep which lasts about 5 minutes... Continue reading "Understanding Stress, Sleep, and Health" »

Social Psychology: Attitudes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Attitudes & Behavior: Attitudes affect interpretations of everyday events. An attitude is an overall evaluation of some aspects of the world.

Types of Attitudes

• Affective: Refers to your feelings about people, issues, and objects
• Behavioral: Refers to your predisposition to act in a particular way towards people, on an issue, or object
• Cognitive: Refers to what you believe or know about people, issues, or objects

Persuasion

Persuasion attempts to change people's attitudes in the hope of changing behavior. Attitudes can change based on experience or additional information. Persuasion can be achieved by two routes:

• Central: Paying close attention to the content of the argument
• Peripheral: