Attitudes
About the course
This is an elective course on the Master`s program in Psychology. The course can also be taken as a singular course.
Our attitudes toward objects, people, and ideas shape many aspects of everyday life, including our choice of consumer goods, friends, and political values. What are attitudes, how do they develop, how are they related to behavior, how can they be measured, and how can they be changed?
Part I of the lecture presents traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of attitudes. This part deals with the definition of attitudes, their structure and function, their origin, and their consequences. The measurement of attitudes will be discussed; further, the most influential models of persuasion (that is, how to change peoples attitudes) will be presented.
Part II deals with selected topics that have recently gained attention in the literature. First, new theoretical models of persuasive communication have been proposed that provide a fresh view on how attitudes are formed, and how they can be changed. These models will be presented and compared to the established approaches. Second, research has demonstrated the usefulness of complementing direct measures of attitudes (typically based on questionnaire responses) by indirect attitude measures (typically based on response latencies). These two kinds of measures may often lead to different conclusions, for instance in research on sensitive topics such as intergroup attitudes. Theoretical background and measurement instruments, but also ambiguities concerning the appropriate interpretation of indirectly assessed attitudes will be presented and discussed.
Admission requirements
Bachelor degree in psychology.
Local admission, application code 9371 - singular courses.
Objectives of the course
After completing the course the student should be able to:
- Account for central theoretical debates on the formation, change, and measurement of attitudes.
- Explain the interplay between attitudes and behavior.
- Develop suitable methods/tools for measuring attitudes both directly and indirectly.
- Explain how attitudes can be changed within and beyond the conscious awareness of the individual.
- Design studies and interventions that deal with the measurement and change of attitudes.
Teaching methods
Language of instruction and examination
The course is held in English. The weekly assignments and the home exam may be written in English or Norwegian.Recommended reading/syllabus
Du kan se og få tilgang til deler av pensum via Leganto.
Pensumliste for PSY-3005 Attitudes - HØST 2024Information to incoming exchange students
Examination
| Off campus exam | Hand in: 25.11.2024 14:00 Hand out: 11.11.2024 09:00 |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| 1/2 page discussion paper | Grade: Approved – not approved |
| 15 min. presentation | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage
