P324 Spring 1999 Web Assignment #4

Questionnaire on Attribution/Cognition/Perception Web Links (Chapters 4 & 5)

Instructions: Answer the following questions about the Web Links for Chapters 4 & 5 . Your comments need not be long and complex, but they should be clearly written and reflect some careful analysis on your part. When you are satisfied with your responses, click on the "SEND" button below, then "CLEAR" your responses. Note that your answers will not be anonymous, and will be posted on the Web as well as shared with other members of the class. You may want to take notes relevant to all of the questions, then fill in the questionnaire.

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1. This month's "Editor's Choice" feature on the Courselinks site is particularly relevant to topics of social cognition/attribution/perception as explored in both the Tesser text and our supplemental readings. Go to the Courselinks site and read through Michele Acker's observations. One of the things she mentions is a current analysis of the Martian Invasion Panic of 60 years ago. The entire analysis is worthwhile, but pay particular attention to the section regarding the power of the mass media. What is the gist of the argument being made?

Can you think of a recent instance in which the mass media played a similary role? Explain.

2. In Gilbert's Chapter in our text, he says on page 117, "It is the nature of perception, then, that we often see things ... as conforming more to our expectations than they really do." Examine the MONA and COMMON CENTS demonstrations, then briefly explain how they illustrate Gilbert's point.

4. Read through the News Analysis of the TWA Flight 800 Crash, and also the brief summary about the Death of Di. Identify a principle of attribution, social cognition, or interpersonal perception that seems to operate similarly in both events. Clearly identify your principle and explain how it pertains to both.

Now identify a principle that seems to pertain to one of the events but not the other. Clearly identify the principle, and then explain for each event how it does or does not apply.

5. Examine the three cartoons listed for this section. Choose one and write a brief (1-2 paragraph) analysis of the one or two principles of attribution/social cognition/interpersonal perception that you think are most clearly illustrated in the cartoon. Be sure to clearly identify which cartoon you are writing about.