Assignment Code: BPCC-110/ Asst /TMA /2021-22

Course Code: BPCC-110

Assignment Name: Applied Social Psychology

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

NOTE: All assignments are compulsory.

Instructions:

1.Have a title page. Include details like Name, Enrolment number, Email id, Regional Centre, Study Centre, Programme Title and code, Course title and code and Tutorial code.

2.Use A4 size paper for the tutorial (ruled/ bank).

3.For making tables, blank pages can be used and tables/ graphs (if any) to be drawn in pencil.

4.Content should not be plagiarised.

Part A

Assignment One

Answer the following questions in about 500 words each (wherever applicable).

Each question carries 20 marks.

2 x 20 = 40

Q1. Describe the nature and scope of applied social psychology. Explain applied social psychology as science.

Ans) Applied social psychology is a sub-discipline of social psychology. It focuses on the application of social psychology ideas to a variety of fields. According to Schneider et al., social psychology is a science that aims to understand how people interact, think, feel, and influence one another. As a result, social psychology is primarily concerned with the social aspect of human behaviour.

In terms of applied social psychology, it is defined as "a branch of social psychology that uses social psychology theories, principles, methods, and research evidence to contribute to a) the understanding of social and practical problems, and b) the development of intervention strategies for improving the functioning of individuals, groups, organisations, committees, and societies in relation to social and practical problems."

Applied social psychology is a science, as it is a subset of social psychology. Thus, social concerns and problems are assessed empirically, and solutions designed to successfully deal with them and bring about good change. This assumes that any issue or problem has a social dimension. Thus, social concerns and problems are addressed scientifically and systematically using social psychology principles.

Applied social psychology, according to Oskamp and Schultz, is the use of social psychology's constructs, concepts, theories, intervention approaches, research methodologies, and findings to produce a comprehensive knowledge of social problems. An integrated set of principles can describe, explain, and forecast an occurrence that is observable.

Thus, applied social psychology focuses on both theory and application to understand social challenges and problems and design effective remedies. Applied social psychology is used in many domains including health, education, sports, and employment.

Applied Social Psychology as A Science

Applied social psychology can necessarily be termed as science not only because it is branch of social psychology which in turn is a significant area under psychology, but also because it utilises systematic and empirical methods and is guided and directed by the scientific core values. Some of the significant scientific core values are accuracy, objectivity, scepticism, open-mindedness and ethics.

Some of these core values are:

1. Accuracy: This is in the context of measurement as well gathering of information that needs to be carried out without any scope for error and with great precision.

2. Objectivity: In the process of testing a theory or in measurement and information collection, there needs to be no subjectivity. The process needs to be objective and free from any bias.

3. Scepticism: Any outcome or results need to be questioned and not accepted without verifying it.

4. Open-mindedness: The outcomes and results obtained after an empirical study that are valid and reliable need to be accepted with an open mind even if they contradict one’s own beliefs.

5. Ethics: Ethical issues need to be taken care of while carrying out any study or research.

As a result, applied psychology takes use of scientific core values to not only comprehend social problems and concerns, but also to develop and evaluate appropriate intervention solutions.

Q2. Explain the application of social psychology to consumer behaviour.

Ans) Everyone has needs, wants, and demands, hence everyone is a consumer. A consumer uses or has used the goods or services purchased. For example, you are a consumer of the phone you bought, the meal you ate, the clothes you wore, and the job counselling session. Consume or use the thing or service you have purchased as a consumer. You are a consumer if you have simply used a product or service that you purchased from the seller.

A consumer can fit into any of the categories listed below, which is important to know because it can help businesses sell and provide their goods and services more efficiently.

The following are the consumer classification categories:

1. Seasonal consumer: Purchasing on a seasonal basis, for example, umbrellas, sweaters.

2. Personal consumer: Purchasing for their need or their family, for example, grocery, car.

3. Organizational consumer: Purchasing in bulk with recurring order by corporates, organisations.

4. Impulse buyer: Purchasing instinctively, without planning, because you like it, usually done on a whim, for example, chocolates, shoes.

5. Need-based consumer: Purchasing for a specific need, for example, light bulb to see at night, cough syrup.

6. Discount-driven consumer: Purchasing during sale and discount time.

Our goals and requirements as clients alter depending on the situation. To reach people and deliver, businesses must first understand our needs as individuals and as a social, cultural, and economic group, as well as the factors that impact them. This is required for firms to adequately develop and execute their marketing strategy to meet customer needs. Consumers reward reliable companies with loyalty and a good reputation. Marketing and branding, green consumerism, hospitality, tourism, and education are all examples of where this type of analysis is used.

Application to Consumer Behaviour

Consumer behaviour is the study of how people (individuals and groups) select, buy, and use ideas, commodities, and services to meet their needs. It also relates to market behaviour and its reasons. To satisfy needs and desires, people or groups select, purchase, use, or dispose of objects (services), ideas (ideas), or experiences (experiences). Based on consumer behaviour, marketers can upgrade or introduce products or services, set product pricing, create marketing channels, and create communication content. The idea is that understanding customer behaviour can benefit businesses and organisations. They can not only understand their consumers' needs but also produce items to fulfil their needs.

Pricing, labelling, and product packaging can all be addressed this way. In today's world, where environmental sustainability is a major concern, green consumerism can gain popularity. A greater understanding of consumer behaviour would allow you to propose a new product or expand your present offering. Remember that customer behaviour is a dynamic field that changes over time. Importantly, as a person's demographics change, so will his product preferences. Businesses can also benefit from these transitions by researching new trends. This type of structural and demographic study also improves market forecasting. Sales, promotions, and discount programmes are all made feasible due to this understanding of client behaviour.

Assignment Two

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each (wherever applicable).

Each question carries 5 marks. 6 x 5 = 30

Q3. What is action research? Discuss ethical issues in psychological research.

Ans) Action research is a research method that can be used to create research studies that not only inform but also impact practise. Action research, according to Winter and Munn-Giddings, is "a study of a social situation conducted by persons participating in that situation in order to improve both their practise and the quality of their understanding." As with applied social psychology, the focus of action research is on intervention.

Ethical considerations are important at every stage of research, from choosing a study problem to finalising the research design, sample, data collecting, analysis, and reporting. The researcher must guarantee that there is no plagiarism and that the sources cited in the research are properly recognised while writing and reporting the findings.

Q4. Describe intervention and discuss its design and implementation.

Ans) In clinical and counselling psychology, intervention refers to the process of providing appropriate treatment to clients who are experiencing psychological concerns, problems, or disorders. These interventions are based on counselling and psychotherapy, and in some situations, they can be done individually or in groups. The goal or goal of intervention in applied social psychology is the same as it is in clinical psychology or industrial and organisational psychology: to modify human behaviour.

Design and Implementation

The identification of the problem is the first step in the design and implementation of an intervention. The second step is to discover a solution: Once the problem has been identified, the search for remedies can begin. Step 3: Goal setting and intervention planning: This is the third step in the intervention design and implementation process. This step entails determining the intervention's aims as well as putting the intervention into action.

Q5. Define community and explain its categories.

Ans) A community is a collection of people who are functionally related and live in a specific geographical location at a specific period. People show a sense of belonging and share a similar culture. These individuals are members of a social structure who are conscious of their identity as a distinct and distinct group.

There are three broad categories of community:

1. Rural Communities: Rural communities are often understood to be quiet, isolated and untouched by the urban developments of the world.

2. Urban Communities: Urban communities tend to be more complex and diverse in terms of their social status and needs.

3. Suburban Communities: These are usually lower density areas that separate residential and commercial areas from one another.

Q6. Explain the influence of media on political behaviour.

Ans) Human behaviour and thinking processes can be influenced by media in both positive and bad ways. As a result, the media has the ability to affect our political behaviour. In this sense, we might define media setting as "the premise that media can contribute to the shaping of individuals' attitudes and issues that are viewed as essential." As a result, if a particular murder case receives a lot of media attention, the general population will consider it important. As a result, the media has a greater influence on what we believe is significant than what we believe.

Certain issues receive a lot of media coverage, which leads to the public believing that the issue is significant, and the issue becomes prominent. When it comes to politics, it is often considered that the media focuses more on the negative aspects, which can have an impact on the public's trust in politicians and the government.

Q7. Elucidate teams in the context of sports.

Ans) A team is a collection of people who work together to achieve a common goal. For instance, we have a cricket or football team that mostly works in concert with one another in order to defeat the opposing team. Teams can be defined as a smaller group of people that are interdependent and have abilities that complement one another. In the case of sports, our teams consist of individuals from various backgrounds who are skilled in the sport and have been chosen to represent a country, a state, or a club as a team.

As a result, social psychology can be used not just to study team dynamics, but also to create productive teams. Teams in sports also perform in front of an audience in this setting, and this might have an impact on their performance.

Q8. Discuss the application of social psychology to promoting health and healthy behaviours

Ans) Social psychology principles can be used to not only explain but also promote health-related behaviours. Junk food consumption has a bad impact on one's health, as most people are aware. However, they continue to eat junk food on a regular basis. The same may be said about smoking and a variety of other unhealthy habits. Healthy habits, lifestyles, and attitudes can go a long way toward ensuring an individual's overall health and well-being. As a result, the focus should be on the interaction between health behaviour and health-related attitudes in order to enhance health.