In addition to the activities listed, the site features a true/false quiz and annotated web links related to chapter content. The true/false quiz asks students not only to determine whether a statement is true or false but also to defend the choice with an explanation. An answer key is provided as a guide for student answers.
Critical Thinking: The Internet and Social Isolation
Students read a summary of research about the Internet and social isolation that appeared in the September 1998 APA Monitor and answer Thinking Critically questions about the conclusions of the research. The introduction to the activity points out the difference between the perspectives of sociologists and social psychologists, while using this research as an example of a topic of interest to both social psychologists and sociologists.
Chapter 2 Doing Social Psychology Research
Thinking Critically: Statistics
Students link to an article in Discover Magazine about the misuse of statistics and answer the Thinking Critically questions. The answers can be e-mailed to the instructor or printed and handed in.
Chapter 3 The Social Self
Thinking Critically: Self-Esteem
Students read a monograph by educators about the overemphasis on self-esteem in academic achievement and answer the Thinking Critically questions, which can be e-mailed to the instructor or printed and handed in.
Chapter 4 Perceiving Persons
Thinking Critically: The Polygraph
Students read a 1998 APA Monitor article in which psychologists debate the merits of the polygraph examination and answer Thinking Critically questions. The answers can be e-mailed to the instructor or printed and handed in.
Chapter 5 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Thinking Critically: Hate Crimes Legislation
Students read an article from the APAMonitor about psychologists' support of hate crimes legislation and answer the Thinking Critically questions. The answers can be e-mailed to the instructor or printed and handed in.
Chapter 6 Attitudes
Thinking Critically: Subliminal Messages
Students read a brief monograph on subliminal messages from St. Thomas University and answer the Thinking Critically questions about subliminal messages. The answers can be e-mailed to the instructor or printed and handed in. The introduction to the activity refers to the use of a subliminal message in a political advertisement for then presidential candidate George W. Bush.
Chapter 7 Conformity
Thinking Critically: Heaven's Gate
Students read an article by Donelson Forsyth of Virginia Commonwealth University about the Heaven's Gate cult. The article discusses the personal characteristics and group dynamics that interact in a cult setting and applies them to a group that most students will have heard about. The students answer Thinking Critically questions and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 8 Group Processes
Thinking Critically: Twentieth-Century Leaders
Students go to the Time Magazine site that features biographies and brief essays on the people Time names as the 100 most influential leaders of the twentieth century. Students are asked to choose several and answer the Thinking Critically questions about the leadership qualities of those chosen.
Chapter 9 Attraction and Close Relationships
Thinking Critically: Love as an Addiction
Students read an article linking the passionate feelings associated with attraction and the chemical dopamine. Students answer the Thinking Critically questions and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 10 Helping Others
Thinking Critically: Altruism
After an introduction to the concept of altruism, students read an APA monograph about the origins of altruism, titled "What Makes Kids Care? Teaching Gentleness in a Violent World." Students answer the Thinking Critically questions and e-mail their answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 11 Aggression
Thinking Critically: Violent Entertainment
Students read the summary of a 2000 Federal Trade Commission report about how the entertainment industry targets children with violent music, video games, and movies. Students answer the Thinking Critically questions and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 12 Law
Thinking Critically: False Confessions
The activity begins with a discussion of the fact that most people find it hard to understand how people can admit to crimes they did not commit. Students read an American Psychological Association press release that discusses the research of Saul Kassin, one of the text’s authors, into the dynamics of false confessions. Students answer the Thinking Critically questions and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 13 Business
Thinking Critically: Personality Testing on the Job
Students read a brief APA monograph about how employers use personality tests to predict job performance. Students answer the Thinking Critically questions and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
Chapter 14 Health
Thinking Critically: Stress and Cancer
The activity begins with a discussion of research into the connection between stress and cancer. Students read an article from the APA Monitor that discusses some of the research, answer the Thinking Critically questions, and e-mail the answers to the instructor or print them and hand them in.
