- Join over 1.2 million students every month
- Accelerate your learning by 29%
- Unlimited access for just £4.99 per month
Outline the strengths and weaknesses of the social approach .
- Essay length: 609 words
- Submitted: 02/05/2012
-
Reviewed by:
sydneyhopcroft
The first 200 words of this essay...
Outline the strengths and weaknesses of the social approach (12 marks)
The first strength of the social approach is it utilises experimental methods. Experimental methods manipulate one variable to see the effect it has on another variable. This allows for cause and effect to be established. The social approach can therefore be seen as being scientific. An example of a social study that uses a field experiment method is the Piliavin et al subway study on bystander behaviour in emergency situations. This study manipulated a number of variables including race of the victim. It then recorded if passengers on the tram helped the victim and how long it took for them to help. Whilst using experimental methods makes the approach scientific, on the other hand this strength can be seen as a small weakness as it is very reductionist. Reductionist methods only try to identify one cause for a behaviour occurring. This is a weakness as the social approach's theories may be based on incomplete evidence as the studies may have missed some causes of behaviour e.g. affect of physiology in obedience.
The second strength of the social approach is social studies have important applications to everyday
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- Over 150,000 essays available
- Just £4.99 a month
Review of essay
Rating: 5 star(s)
Response to the question
This may seem like a very prescriptive essay worthy of criticism for the lack of introduction and conclusion, but OCR G542 questions on strengths and weaknesses of psychological approaches do not require them. Therefore, this answer includes everything and more that is required of a candidate taking AS Psychology. There is a fairly balanced discussion into the evaluation of the social approach, with two strengths and two weakness, and an integrated weakness in the first paragraph. I would suggest an integrated strength to balance it out, or maybe dropping the comments about reductionism. Examiners would prefer the former because the candidate would then show glimpses of A2 knowledge by discussing reductionism by way of integration - something quite remarkable at AS.
Level of analysis
The Level of Analysis is exceptional. The answer is perceptive and tightly succinct and shows a diverse range of knowledge of the social approach in psychology. The examples given are relevant and nicely cited, showing an adeptness in evaluating psychological evidence, which naturally encourages a stronger essay due to this. Though the answer may seem prescriptive, given the exam requirements and allotted time to complete them in, this is actually a very nicely-written essay. There is just the right amount of information, which is all wonderfully presented with confidence and knowledge.
Quality of writing
The Quality of Written Communication is very good. From both an English and a Psychology perspective the candidate demonstrates excellent control over their use of language, incorporating specialist terms where appropriate. There is no cause for concern when it comes to grammar, punctuation or spelling.
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- Over 150,000 essays available
- Just £4.99 a month
Not the one? We have 100's more
Social Psychology (view all)
- Is Psychology a Science?
- Pro and Anti Social Behaviour
- "Describe the main features of conformity and obedience...
- Outline and evaluate the theory of deindividuation
- The Concepts Of Conformity And Obedience
- Psychology AQA: Discuss one or more social psychological exp...
- Discuss research into conformity - notes on Jenness, Asch , ...
- Outline ways in which psychologists have dealt with ethical ...
- Milgram, Hoffling and Zimbardo. Critically Consider the Psy...
- Outline and evaluate 2 theories of relationship formation
