Course Description and Objectives
Why do we do what we do? What factors play a role in shaping our personality? What biological, psychological and social elements help to configure a person’s psychological, emotional, and moral character? What can we do about them? In this course, we examine landmark studies that shook standard beliefs about human nature. By analyzing these studies in their contexts, we explore their influence on contemporary views about humans and society. In addition to shaping our views about the human mind and behavior, many of these studies also had an impact on the epistemological and ethical criteria used by the scientific community and broader society to decide what counts as good science. Thus, we will also examine evolving views about scientific inquiry: How have ideas about what counts as good science changed?

Course Objectives
In this course, you will:

• Identify some of the main approaches used in social psychology;
  Recognize methodologies employed by social scientists;
• Use research tools for carrying out a literature analysis, particularly PsycNet;
• Carry out a small-scale social research project using questionnaires, interviews, or observation techniques;
• Write a short research article which includes a brief literature review, methods, results, and discussions.