SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Foundation of Natural Build Environment (FNBE)

Name: KHOO XIN YEE [0316180] DINUKA OSHIDHI WEERASINGHE [0316164] JASON LIM CHEE SHEN [0316791] LEONG TZY HERNG [0315805]

Group/ Session: Monday 1-4pm, July Intake

Subject: Social Psychology [PSYC0103]

Project: Assignment 2 Research Report

Submission Date: Monday 2.6.2014

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In this psychological research, we received a lot of cooperation and support from many parties. We would like to voice my gratitude here.

First, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Shankar, our lecturer for giving us an opportunity to conduct a social psychology conceptual video clip and presentation for our final project. We extremely grateful to Mr. Shankar for helping and guiding us throughout this whole project, which helped us to complete the project on time.

Next, we also like to express our deep gratitude to our parents who are providing us the financial resources we need to prepare all the materials needed and unwavering love in us along this project.

Lastly, we would like to extend our sincere regards to our group members for their hard work contribution and cooperation to this project with their invaluable opinions and suggestions to complete the project successfully. Besides, the success and final outcomes of this project required a lot of guidance and assistance from my group members and I am highly fortunate for having this along the completion of our project work.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENT PAGE

1.1 Acknowledgement 2

1.2 Table of Content 3

1.3 Introduction 4-5

1.4 Method

1.4[a] Apparatus/ Material

1.4[b] Procedure

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6-7

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1.5 Discussion 9-14

1.6 References 15

1.7 Appendix 16-17

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INTRODUCTION

In the beginning of the semester, we had been told that we have to conduct a social psychology conceptual video clip and required to do a presentation for our final project. As the final project is a group work, we had been divided into 4-5 members for each group. The whole project carried about 30% marks. In this social psychology research project, the objective of this project is to be able to conduct a simple social psychology experiment, enhance teamwork ability and leadership and encourage problem solving and creative thinking among the students. The learning outcomes of this project are we will be able to work in-group dynamics, apply critical thinking in application of real world experiences and implement the concepts to practical environments.

Basically, this project divided into two parts. Part one is to conduct a conceptual video clip. The group conceptual topics are based on integrating theory to the practical. We are encouraged to use materials and theories from various topics taught and discussed in class. After that, we need to write a research report from all the information that had done in the short video. Then, part two is we have to conduct a group presentation about all the process of short video. We may use creativity in how to conduct a presentation.

So, we had decided to shoot about the story of a girl. The short video is telling the story of a girl named, Yee. At the age of 15, she was sent to England to further her studies. One day, while she was chilling at a cafe with Mr. Lim, the owner of the company, her niece, Susan called her and telling her that someone is interested in buying her house, she has to go back and deal with the paperwork. She remained silent. After hanging up, she had a flashback of her back at the house. She was having a conversation with her father, Yee was asking her dad why did he sent her overseas to further her studies and telling her father she doesn’t want to go anywhere but to stay in Malaysia. Her dad told her that only by studying abroad will have better and brighter future. Her dad insisted her to leave, so she left unwillingly. She hates her dad. After a week upon receiving the call from her niece, she flew back to Malaysia. She looked around her old house, feeling nostalgic. She remembered the times in England when she called her parents to check upon

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them. Her parents left the only house as a capital for her, which was the only thing that was left by her parents for her. As she was cleaning her room, a broken small vintage teapot and bank account book were found. The account book that her parents left was to pay for her education fees. She then realizes the love and good intention of both the parents. She then regret for not spending enough time with them.

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METHOD 1.4[a] Materials/ Apparatus

Camera and Camera Tripod

Camera is used to take the process of short video. While, camera tripod’s function is pretty straightforward. It used to hold the camera in a precise position. This gives us a sharp and clear effect when it might have otherwise appeared blurred due to camera shake.

White Roses

White roses are used for the funeral scene as Yee’s parents had passed away. White roses represent purity; a gift of white roses also says “You're heavenly.” When Yee’s parents had passed away, a spray of white roses at the memorial ceremony serves as a sign of the pureness of the their soul and memory.

Artwork (Photo)

Artwork is used for the very first scene in Old Town. Mr. Lim passed the artwork to Yee when they have a meet in cafe.

Passport

Passport is used for the scene which is Yee is arguing with her dad. She threw away the passport as she refused to study abroad.

Teapot

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Yee’s dad left the small vintage teapot for her as the memorial since she was a kid. This teapot will always be with Yee just like how her parents always will no matter what happens in the future. Unluckily, the teapot has broken and never mends.

Bank Account Book

Yee’s parents left the bank account book for Yee as her educational fees. Yee doesn’t have to worry about her financial problem in the future.

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1.4[b] PROCEDURES

In the beginning, the lecturer briefed us about the research project that we need to complete for our psychology’s final project. The lecturer explained the brief, which is Mr. Shankar and the way to conduct a conceptual video clip in a proper method. After asking a few questions about the project, we formed a group of 4-5 members that assigned by our lecturer. Then, all the groups needed to think of a story that has to make into a short video.

Then, we tried to understand about the purpose of doing this project and the concepts that have to implement into the script. First, we suggested a video script with minimum five social psychology concepts that have been taught by our lecturer. Next, we drafted out the script that we had discussed and formatted the script in orderly manner. Then, we showed the script to the lecturer for approval to identify if there are any mistakes or errors need to be corrected. After getting approval, we suggested some of the video props that are needed. Besides, we also suggest a few suitable locations for video shooting and get approval from the authorities. We roughly estimate the days we would spend for video shooting and what is the time for starting the progress.

Once the short video was done, we started to edit video all together. After we have done the completed video, we started to proceed with our research report to explain the process of the shooting. Finally, we have completed our social psychology research conceptual video and report as well with the guidance of our lecturer.

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DISCUSSION

Discussed Script

In A Café (Old Town)

When Yee was 15, she came to the land of England by herself.Mr. Yap: “ This is your artwork. I’m busy now so I’ll catch up with you later. I’ll contact you when we confirm the schedule. ”Yee: “No problem. If there is any problem or any need to reshoot it, please let me know.” Mr. Yap: “ Well, I hope we have a chance to work together again soon.”Mr. Yap nodded head and left.Yee: “ See you!”Yee continued to look at her artworks (photos), and suddenly her phone vibrated and she picked up the call. (Yee pick up phone scene)Yee: “ Hello.”Susan: “ Hello, Yee. It’s Susan (Yee’s niece). Do you still remember me?”Yee thinks a while and said, “ Of course (laugh out loudly) ”, you’re my niece. It’s been a long time no see!”Susan: “ It’s great that you still remember me. I’m just calling you to tell you that somebody wants to buy your house so you would need to come back to Malaysia to deal with the paperwork. So when do you think you’re free enough to come back? Yee kept silent.

Flashback at House Compound (Beside lake)

Yee: “ Why are you sending me away to England? ” (Holding passport)Dad: “ Why aren’t you happy with this decision? There are others who want to go but can’t afford. Only the ones that study abroad will have a bright and better future (Stereotype) because they can guarantee work in big companies. ” (Solomon Asch’s Conformity Experiment) – (Persuasion)Yee: “ Dad why are you doing this to me? I won’t be happy there! Why can’t you understand that? The only place I want to be is Malaysia. I will miss everything here very badly! ” (Affective forecasting)

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Dad: “ It’s about time that you stop arguing about this and board your flight. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I have made up my mind.”Yee: “ I’m not going! Why are you being so old-fashioned?” (Ageism) (Throw away the passport)But then, she still has to leave insisted by his dad. She hates her dad.

Back to reality- House Compound (Beside lake)

A week later, Yee reached her old home in Malaysia. She looked around her old house, feeling nostalgic. Remembering what happened in England when she called her parents to check up on them. Yee: “ Hey, mom. Have you and dad been? I just want to tell that I got a scholarship in school! ”Mom: “ Your dad and I are doing well, alright then the telephone fee is very expensive so we’ll talk again next time. Study hard and take care of yourself. ” (Then end the conversation.)A few years later, her parents have both passed away, leaving her all alone. Leaving her only the memories of her family to remember by.As Yee was cleaning her house, she founded a broken small vintage teapot and also a bank account book that her parents left for to pay for Yee’s education fees. The pain of losing her parents came back and she finally realized the love and good intentions of her family. She regret deeply for not spending more time with her family, loving and care for them. (Upward Counterfactual) Flashback- House Compound (Beside lake)

When she was small.Dad: “Little Yee, do you know how old this vintage little teapot is? ”Yee: “ It is ten years old! Which mean I am also ten years old right? ” Dad: “ My smart little Yee (smile and pat her head), remember no matter what happens in the future, this teapot will always be with you just like how mummy and daddy always will. Okay? ”Yee: “ Yes, dad.”

But one day, the teapot broke and was never mend. The end.

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CONCEPTS

Stereotype: Chapter 3

A stereotype is “ A fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996). One advantage of a stereotype is that it enables us to respond rapidly to situations because we may have had a similar experience before. Whereas, one disadvantage is that it makes us ignore differences between individuals; therefore we think things about people that might not be true.

“ Linking to the video context, Yee’s dad thinks that her daughter will definitely has a better and brighter future if he send her to study abroad. Doubtlessly, all the parents will thinks that sending their children abroad is the best choice for them. However, Yee oppose her dad’s decision and refuses to pursuit her study abroad. Yee’s dad ignores her feedback as according to the concept of stereotype, it makes us ignore differences between individuals. This means that Yee’s dad and her daughter both have different opinion, he choose to disregard Yee as he thinks that his belief is true and majority of parents would also support and encourage their children study abroad.

Solomon Asch’s Conformity Experiment: Chapter 1

In psychological terms, conformity refers to an individual's tendency to follow the unspoken rules or behaviors of the social group to which he or she belongs. For example, do you think of yourself as a conformist or a non-conformist? If you are like most people, you probably believe that you are

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non-conformist enough to stand up to a group when you know you are right, but conformist enough to blend in with the rest of your peers. “ The story start off with the scene of Yee’s dad conforms to the opinion of study abroad is a must even if he feel otherwise or it goes against his personal views. There may be a number of reasons for why Yee’s dad may conform to this opinion. First, he may conform because he wish to feel part of a group as all his friends send their children for pursuing their studies abroad. Besides that, he could wish to gain social approval and acceptance from members of a group as all the people will certainly send their children abroad will be the best choice for them. Next, he could wish to avoid being criticized and ignored. He doesn’t want other people unheeded and condemned him because he doesn’t send her daughter abroad or they will think that he is not a good father. Lastly, he may wish to behave in a manner that is perceived to be right or correct as all the people thinks that this is the right choice to send their children abroad to pursuit study.

Persuasion: Chapter 6

According to Perloff (2003), persuasion can be defined as “A symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or behaviors regarding an issue through the transmission of a message in an atmosphere of free choice.” One’s attitudes and behavior are also affected by other factors, for example, verbal threats, physical coercion, one’s physiological states. Persuasion often involves manipulating people, and for this reason many find the exercise distasteful. Others might argue that, without some degree of social control and mutual accommodation such as that obtained through persuasion, the human community becomes disordered. “ For instance, Yee’s dad persuade Yee to pursuit her study abroad. If she does so, she will guarantee works in big companies in the future. Yee’s dad is trying to change his daughter mind and behavior by convincing. Unfortunately, his daughter thinks that he is trying to manipulate her everything and this leads to argument and quarrel among them. However, Yee insisted to take her own stand on this common ground. In the end, Yee still listen to her dad persuasion and pursuit her study abroad.”

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Affective forecasting: Chapter 2

Affective forecasting is the process of predicting how future events will influence emotional well-being. People often use affective forecasting when making decisions. To reach suitable decisions and to improve their lives, individuals must be able to predict the emotions they are likely to experience if they choose a specific course of action. If individuals need to decide whether they should pursue a vocation in engineering or accounting, for example, they must attempt to foresee which of these career paths is likely to foster enjoyment, satisfaction, contentment, fulfillment, and enthusiasm. Regrettably, individuals do not forecast the emotions they will feel in the future accurately. They will, for example, generally overestimate the negative emotions they will need to endure in the aftermath of aversive or undesirable events. In addition, they will generally overestimate the positive emotions they will experience in response to favorable or fortuitous events (Wilson & Gilbert, 2003).

“ Example of affective forecasting is shown in the video when Yee feels very sad and unhappy because her dad insisted to send her abroad to pursuit study. Yee thinks that she will be alone and no has any friends if she studies abroad. The only place she wants to be is in her own country and she will miss everything here very badly.”

Ageism: Chapter 7

Ageism is defined as negative or positive stereotypes, prejudice or discrimination against (or to the advantage of) elderly people on the basis of their chronological age or on the basis of a perception of them as being “old” or “elderly”. Similar to racism and sexism, ageism involves holding negative stereotypes about people of different ages. This term has also been used to describe prejudice and discrimination against adolescents and children,

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including ignoring their ideas because they are too young, or assuming that they should behave in certain ways because of their age.

“ In the short video, Yee scolded her dad with some relish of sarcasm which is “ Why are you being so old-fashioned? ” She thinks that her dad has a traditional thinking and keep persuading her to study abroad. Yee’s dad behaves in certain ways because of his age. He persists his own way and decision without caring his daughter feeling.”

Counterfactual Thinking- Upward counterfactual: Chapter 3

Upward counterfactuals serve a preparatory function in that identification of the cause of a negative outcome or some other factor that could have avoided the unfortunate situation and imagining how things could have been better, may prepare us for future similar situations. Upward counterfactual thoughts focus on how things might have turned out better, which also contains high level of expecting the best possible outcome for every situation. When upward counterfactuals focus on personal choice, the resulting emotion is termed regret, which itself has spawned a large literature emphasizing biased judgment and decision-making. 

“ Linking to the video context, Yee feels greatly regret as she did not spend more time with her parents. The sadness and pain that she feels when things don’t turn out as well as she has hoped prompts her to seek understanding of what went wrong and to search for solutions that help her to avoid similar pain in the future.She wouldn’t have lost her parents if she’d spent more time with them, loved and cared for them. ”

REFERENCES

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Ayton, P., Pott, A., & Elwakili, N. (2007). Affective forecasting: Why can’t people predict their emotions? Thinking & Reasoning, 13, 62-80

Jennifer, R. (2010). Olympic expectations gone awry: Plushenko conforms to silver medalist syndrome. Retrieved from http://socialpsychologyeye.wordpress.com/tag/upward-counterfactuals/

Kendra, C. (). The Asch Conformity Experiments. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/classicpsychologystudies/p/conformity.htm

Kendra, C. (). What is Persuasion? Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/socialinfluence/f/what-is-persuasion.htm

Loretto, W., Duncan, C., & White, P.J. (2000). Ageism and employment: Controversies, ambiguities, and younger people’s perceptions. Ageing & Society, 20(3), 279-302.

Saul, M. (2007). Simply Psychology. What is Conformity? Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/conformity.html

Saul, M. (2008). Simply Psychology. Stereotypes. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html

APPENDIX15

THE PROCESS OF SHOOTING

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