BPCS 188 Solved Guess Paper 2026 for IGNOU Applications of Social Psychology (BAG, BSCG and BA Honours)

Applied social psychology: meaning, history and contributions

Question: Define Applied Social Psychology. Discuss its historical development and contributions.

Meaning of Applied Social Psychology

"Applied social psychology combines the science of social psychology with the practical application of solving social problems that exist in the real world."

It applies social psychological theories, principles, research findings and experimental methods to understand social issues and offer real-world solutions.

Historical development

1. Walter Dill Scott (1903): in "The Theory and Practice of Advertising" suggested that emotional suggestions influence consumers' buying habits.
2. Hugo Munsterberg (1908): defined applied psychology as research to adjust to the problems of everyday life.
3. Hall (1917): pioneered the Journal of Applied Psychology.
4. The 1920s: applied research gained importance in industry, covering consumer behaviour, employee motivation and team building.
5. Kurt Lewin: considered the pioneer of modern applied social psychology; he insisted on action research and founded both applied and theoretical social psychology.

Contributions

1. Wellbeing: solves human problems and promotes wellbeing through therapeutic techniques.
2. Theory: adds to the existing theories of basic social psychology.
3. Relations: improves interpersonal relations and communication.
4. Real-life problems: uses attitude-change techniques to promote adaptive behaviour.
5. Social problems: reduces prejudice, discrimination, ageism and social stigma.

Conclusion: Evolving from early advertising and industrial research to Kurt Lewin's action research, applied social psychology contributes to theory, wellbeing and the reduction of social problems.

Sampling: characteristics and techniques

Question: Delineate the characteristics of sampling techniques. Describe the techniques of probability and non-probability sampling.

Meaning of sampling

"Sampling refers to selection of certain individuals or a subset of population to make statistical inferences from them and then generalise it on the population."

Characteristics of a sampling technique

1. Cost and time: highly cost-effective and efficient, taking less time to make inferences.
2. Reliability: careful selection gives results as reliable as a population survey.
3. In-depth study: fewer units allow study from various angles.
4. Scientific approach: results can be verified and applied to other sets of units.
5. Suitability: a small number of units is enough when the matter is not diverse.

Probability sampling (random)

Each element has an equal chance of selection. Its types are simple random, stratified, cluster, systematic and multi-stage sampling.

Non-probability sampling (non-random)

It does not depend on randomisation and relies on the researcher's choice. Its types are convenience, purposive (deliberate) and referral or snowball sampling.

Conclusion: Sampling is cost-effective and scientific; probability sampling ensures equal, unbiased selection, while non-probability sampling relies on the researcher's judgement.

Cognitive dissonance theory and its applications

Question: Describe the theory of cognitive dissonance and elucidate its applications.

Meaning

"Cognitive dissonance suggests that a psychological force (an inner drive) functions to maintain all our attitudes and beliefs in synchronisation and avoids dissonance."

When we notice incoherence among our thoughts, attitudes and actions, psychological distress follows; the greater the dissonance, the stronger the motivation to resolve it.

Ways of resolving dissonance

1. Change in beliefs: altering the belief, though deep-seated beliefs rarely change.
2. Change in behaviour: changing the action itself, for example quitting smoking.
3. Change in perception: rationalising the action so it no longer looks inconsistent.

Applications

1. Forced compliance: in the Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) peg-board experiment, participants paid $1 rated a dull task as more interesting than those paid $20.
2. Decision making: Brehm (1956) showed dissonance is reduced by "spreading apart the alternatives", raising the chosen option and devaluing the rejected one.
3. Effort justification: Aronson and Mills (1959) found people value goals more when they took great effort to reach.

Conclusion: Festinger's theory explains how people reduce the discomfort of inconsistent cognitions, and it is applied to forced compliance, decision making and effort justification.

Attitude, opinion and belief compared

Question: Differentiate among attitude, opinion and belief.

"Attitude, opinion and belief are the acquired predispositions of behaviour. Though they are interdependent and influence each other, yet they have certain differences."

Conclusion: All three are acquired predispositions, but attitude involves emotional evaluation and action, opinion is a judgment about facts without emotional evaluation, and belief is a conviction or trust held toward an object.

The biopsychosocial model and factors affecting health

Question: Explain the biopsychosocial model. Describe the factors affecting health and well-being.

Meaning of the biopsychosocial model

"The Biopsychosocial Model proposes that interactions in the social-environmental, biological and psychological factors lead to mental health."

No single element is enough on its own; genetic makeup, mental health, behaviour and social-cultural context together decide health.

Three components

1. Biological: genetic vulnerability, physical trauma or infection, such as hereditary risk of schizophrenia.
2. Psychological: the psychological basis of symptoms such as impulsivity, irritability and overwhelming sadness.
3. Social: socioeconomic status, culture, technology and religion shape health and illness.

Factors of health and well-being

1. Social variables: income and social protection, education, employment, working conditions, food security, housing, early childhood development and access to services.
2. Health promotion: creating awareness through three strategies: enable, mediate and enhance health.
3. Prevention of illness: primary (reduce risk), secondary (early detection) and tertiary (limit complications).

Conclusion: The biopsychosocial model views health as an interaction of biological, psychological and social factors, supported by social variables, health promotion and three levels of prevention.