Together: The Science of Social Psychology

Reviewed by Kimberly Kahn, Associate Professor, Portland State University on 9/21/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This module-based text book contains 27 modules from the larger bank of 103 psychology modules from NOBA. It organizes these 27 modules into 8 broad topics related to social psychology. In general, the modules cover many classic areas in social psychology that you would find in an introductory textbook (self, groups, relationships, etc.) with the addition of some more unique modules (e.g., IO psychology). My university teaches social psychology across two different classes, dividing up the general content/chapters found in a social psychology text. There are roughly modules to represent each of the normal areas we have divided across classes before, and has similar coverage of topics as an introductory social psychology textbook. Modules are written by leading researchers in the field, and follow a similar structure with learning objectives, the body text, outside resources, discussion questions, and vocabulary provided. They vary by comprehensiveness in coverage. Each tend to cover the major social psychological theories and concepts related to the topic, although some are more in depth than others. For example, the chapter on the self takes a more personality lens and misses (I believe) some key social psychological perspectives. Intergroup theories are also limited in their presentation. They tend to do an overall good job of introducing key concepts and providing some examples. The length tends to be short, so there is less depth provided. I find that empirical research studies to demonstrate the constructs are limited and I would supplement with more research articles to provide this aspect for students.
There is an overall glossary for the textbook as a whole, as well as ones for each module.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Overall, the content provided is generally accurate, error-free, and relatively unbiased. Information presented is clearly and accurately delivered. Where I found the most issue was certain (what I deem) key things left out of some chapters (particularly the self and intergroup relations). There tends to be a lot of self-citing in particular modules, which go in depth about a particular perspective and research program, while providing less coverage of the broader topic.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The modules were originally published in 2016 and are said to be updated (last was in 2019 I think), although it is not always clear when these updates have happened, and vary depending on the module. Some real-world examples are provided which still seem appropriate, even if they are the most current right now. Modules can be easily updated and slotted in when changes or additional are made. The text tends to focus on classic theories, rather than the newest or update findings in social psychology. Using these modules to introduce the core concepts and supplementing with current empirical research articles and findings during lecture would be a good combination.

Clarity rating: 5

The modules are written in a clear and accessible manner. They are straightforward and relatively engaging. There is a glossary for relevant terms and technical jargon.

Consistency rating: 4

The modules are each written by different authors, but use the same consistent framework: abstract, learning objectives, main text, conclusion, outside resources, discussion questions, vocabulary, and references. The tone and writing are fairly consistent across modules, despite being written by different authors. Each module is independent, however, and there is no cross citing or references across modules. The lack of overarching themes across the modules and textbooks is a disadvantage.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is organized into independent modules. This is both a strength and a weakness. Each module can be used on its own, and organized into any combination that the instructor sees fit. Modules can be skipped, substituted, or added as desired. However, this also means that there is no cross references nor overarching themes referred to across modules or the text.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Although it is structured as individual modules, there is an overall flow presented for the textbook. It is possible, however, to move elements around or add/delete as you would like. The structure provided begins with introducing social psychology, followed by research methods, and then has topical groupings: Some topical groupings are similar to what you might find in a standard textbook, while others are a bit different (e.g., prejudice being under a grouping called “Conflict”). There are no introductions to the larger groupings, so the modules can be placed anywhere or in any order.

Interface rating: 4

There are two options available for the textbook: online with an interactive interface or a downloadable PDF. I appreciate both options to all flexibility for the students. Some of the navigation features that are present online are not possible in the PDF version. The interface is easy to use and displays things clearly and accurately.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I caught a few minor grammatical errors in my read through but overall, it is generally well edited.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

In general, while there is a North American/Western focus, I found the text to be inclusive, providing examples from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. There is a unit on culture provided. Some more recent examples are not used due to the age of the module, but are still appropriate and relevant.

Comments

I will be trying out these modules this term, and supplementing with empirical articles for comprehensiveness. I look forward to the students' feedback.

Reviewed by Deana Julka, Associate Professor, University of Portland on 8/17/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book covers the essential components of an intro social psychology course. The layout is unique, as are the chapters on statistical analyses, social neuroscience, and theories of mind presented individually, and not intertwined with other components.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The research is explained clearly and accurately. Research presented is valid and reliable and without bias.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The studies mentioned will continue to be relevant. The book is a few years old, so there are new studies to add to discussion within the classroom.

Clarity rating: 5

Very clear, engaging text. Students will be able to comprehend the text and apply it to their own lives. Appropriate level of terminology and psychological phenomena described.

Consistency rating: 5

This text is consistent with others I have used. There are some creative twists on the order of presentation as well as the framework through which the research is viewed. It provides a fresh look.

Modularity rating: 5

Readily digestible pages of information. There are some clear delineations, which provide pause, but instructors could also choose to enhance or decrease certain modules. For example you may not wish to present theory of mind or I/O separately, and could do differently.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

It's unique and I appreciate that. This text provides a new framework for viewing some of the main concepts within social psychology. For instance, "conflict" as the overarching theme to discuss stereotypes, aggression, conflict & peacemaking, etc. Also, I enjoyed the organization and depth of the relationships information.

Interface rating: 5

Did not encounter any problems.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Good.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

It is not insensitive or inappropriate, and does aim to increase cultural representation. Further additional efforts could enhance current text.

Comments

None

Reviewed by Sieun An, Assistant Professor, Eastern New Mexico University on 11/19/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

I have been using Aaronson’s social psychology for a long time, and am currently in the market for an open source one. This one seems to cover a wide range of topics, and seems to be well organized.

To play devil’s advocate, here’s my 2 cents:
It’s nice that it covers a wide range of topics, but because of them, it seems to lack depth to cover all of this in one semester – one could over all of this if they really want to, but then it will be too shallow. In the end, the undergrad level social psychology is “introduction to social psychology”.
Even with 13 chapters from Aronson, some students said that things could be cherry picked – but they said this varies depending on their own interests. I also would re-order a few chapters as well, but I liked that methods came first (as some social psychology textbooks do not include this, and I find it problematic).
This brings me to the next point--some topics seems to overlap, and it can actually be a subtopic of some chapters. I find it to be repetitive, and biased by one’s interests
Lastly, it lacks of cohesiveness – I find this to be a problem of open source textbooks. This should not be a big problem for introduction to psychology, but when it becomes more advanced classes, a field needs to present more of an interdisciplinary perspective rather than some pieces of information.
Overall, this can be a good option, and I might use some chapters here to re-build my own book. This can be one of better ones I have seen thus far.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

See above

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

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Clarity rating: 4

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Consistency rating: 3

See above

Modularity rating: 3

See above

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

See above

Interface rating: 4

See above

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

See above

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

See above

Comments

See above

Reviewed by Jessica Cundiff, Assistant Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology on 6/13/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The modules cover a wide range of topics in social psychology, including classic topics (e.g., group dynamics, social influence, social cognition, stereotyping), as well as topics that are not usually covered in traditional textbooks (e.g., the family, attachment, I/O). However, some topics are surprisingly missing, such as attribution theory and cognitive dissonance. Additionally, I found the chapter on Self & Identity lacking in scope, because it is written from a personality and developmental perspective rather than a social psychological perspective. I would have liked to see a chapter on The Self that covers the self-concept, self-esteem, and other self-motives. Overall, the chapters provide a good introduction to many topics in social psychology, but instructors may also want to supplement the text with other readings. I found that the textbook did not go into as much depth as I would have liked on some topics (e.g., elaboration likelihood model), and so instructors may need to expand on these concepts in lecture.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Each chapter is written by an expert in the field who actively conducts research in the topic area. Thus I found the information to be accurate, but not always comprehensive and sometimes heavily geared toward the author’s specific line of research.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content seems to be up-to-date, covering both classic and recent developments in the field. Because the textbook is comprised of online modules, it is easy for the editors to update the information. With that said, it is unclear when or how often the modules will continue to be updated. The current publication date on each module is 2019, but it is unclear whether the modules have actually been updated since the first edition (which I believe was 2016).

Clarity rating: 5

The modules are written in way that is engaging, clear, and accessible. Each module is relatively short, which makes it manageable and easy to read for students.

Consistency rating: 5

Even though each module is written by a different author, the textbook is surprisingly consistent in format and writing style. The content is mostly consistent. Different authors bring different perspectives, but I find these different perspectives to be complimentary rather than contradictory.

Modularity rating: 5

One of the main strengths of this textbook is the modularity. Instructors can choose to use this book as is, or they can login to the Noba website and build their own textbook by picking and choosing which modules to include and where to place them in the book. As an instructor, I really like this flexibility. The downside to this approach, however, is that there are no over-arching themes that cut across the entire textbook as one might find in a traditional textbook.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization seems fine as is, but instructors could also customize the book by building their own textbook directly from the Noba website.

Interface rating: 5

The textbook is easy to navigate. Students can read the textbook as a PDF, or they can read the modules online. Students could also print the PDF if they want a hard copy instead. Noba used to offer online quizzes for each module through Cerego, which my students found a bit difficult to navigate. Noba is transitioning to a different program for their online quizzes, so hopefully the interface for the quizzes will be better in the future.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not find any grammatical errors. The books seems properly edited.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book is written from a North American/Western culture perspective. Some chapters include discussion of culture more than others. Instructors may want to supplement with additional cultural perspectives.

Comments

I have not used this particular book in my Social Psychology course. Instead, I built a textbook by selecting relevant modules from Noba’s website. The end product included many of the same modules, but I also ended up supplementing with additional chapters from another open-access textbook (Principles of Social Psychology). I really enjoyed the flexibility to tailor the book to my course. Student responses on a survey at the end of the semester indicated that the textbook was well-received by students with 72% recommending using the textbook again in the course “quite a bit” or “very much”.

Although students seemed to enjoy the textbook, there were a few drawbacks to a traditional textbook. Traditional textbooks seem to come with many more resources for students and instructors. The Noba chapters had online practice quizzes that students could access, but some students reported difficulty accessing the quizzes, and some of the quiz questions were rather elementary and may not have adequately prepared students for exams. The instructor resources were minimal compared to the types of resources provided by traditional textbooks. The instructor manual for the Noba chapters was helpful and provided some useful activities that I incorporated in class, but I would have liked more resources. I ended up searching for additional resources on my own. The test banks were low quality and I had to create many of the test questions on my own. In addition, I heavily supplemented the material from the textbook with additional information during lecture. I found that the textbook did not go into as much depth as I would have liked on some topics, and so I expanded on these concepts in my lecture to make sure students were exposed to the information.

Despite these drawbacks, there were also benefits to using the Noba modules. Chapters in traditional textbooks often go into too much depth and cover too many topics, which can overwhelm students and instructors alike. I enjoyed the flexibility afforded by the open-access chapters to freely choose the specific topics I wanted students to focus on during the course. This allowed me to focus on fewer topics but in greater detail. The other benefit is that the chapters were shorter and easier to read than a traditional textbook, which may have made it easier for students to actually read the chapters.

Reviewed by Tomoaki Imamichi, Asst. Prof., LaGuardia Community College/City University of New York on 5/21/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text covers the major areas within social psychology. Some concepts e.g. self-serving bias, stereotype threat, and classic studies seemed to be missing or could have had more coverage. While there is a Search feature and a Vocabulary section, there is no index such as a subject or author index, which would be of great help.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The book appears to be accurate. The inclusion of evolutionary psychology is understandable, however, in addition to a module on evolutionary psychology a module critiquing of evolutionary psychology may be warranted as well.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The book appears to be up-to-date, it makes mention of the replication crisis, which could have been explored a bit more. It would be good to see more references to major events, where social psychological theories are applicable, e.g. dropping of the Atomic Bomb, the Vietnam War, Invasion of Iraq, and the 2008 Financial Crisis.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is accessible. There are three entries for IAT in the vocabulary section. I understand that different authors in different chapters referred to it, and it would be helpful to make readers aware of it and provide links to the chapter. Also when trying to locate a subject or author, the search feature provide the module number and the fragment including the search term, but it require to browse through the whole module to locate the term and the context.

Consistency rating: 4

The chapter format, references, and additional resources are consistent. There are three entries for IAT in the vocabulary section. I understand that different authors in different chapters referred to it, and it would be helpful to make readers aware of it and provide links to the chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

The modularity is good in terms of the length of the sections. Each module can serve as a standalone module. It seems easy for instructors to assign selective modules as supplements, or supplement the module with additional material.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Several books start out with basic background and then move from a micro level (self) to a more macro level (social conflict and resolution), or from a biological to a more socio-cultural perspective, or are chronologically organized. The holistic organization is not apparent to me.

Interface rating: 4

The search features could be improved, that would direct the reader immediately to the section of the text rather than the module.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were noticed.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Perhaps it the book could self-reflect on the field about the biases in the representation of the field and research subjects.

Comments

The strength of this book is that many well-known experts in the field have chapters are authored the chapters. It would be great to have a chapter on critical social psychology and sustainability.

Reviewed by Shanhong Luo, Full Professor, University of North Carolina at Wilmington on 5/21/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

In terms of the topic coverage, the book is very comprehensive. It covers classic topics well studied in social psychology such as self, social cognition, stereotypes, attitudes, group dynamics, aggression, pro-social behaviors, close relationships. It also goes above and beyond the usual and covers other related topics including emotions and I/O. The individual chapters vary in their comprehensiveness. For example, close relationships are covered extensively, while self, in comparison, can be improved in both breadth and depth.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

In terms of the information presented, the book is accurate. However, some chapters seem to be heavy in personality psychology possibly due to the author’s background. While social and personality psychology constantly inform each other, the book may wish to further highlight their distinction as two separate fields in the future.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The book is current (up to 2016). The authors are able to balance between presenting classic, well-known, and well-replicated studies in the history of social psychology, and the most recent, cutting-edge research, theories, and methodology.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is good in clarity. Jargons, terms, theories are well explained and usually illustrated with good examples. I particularly like the interactive feature where you click on the term, it brings the reader the definition.

Consistency rating: 4

The book is largely consistent. As an edited book, it is inevitable that different authors bring different perspectives and emphases to the book, which can be both a pro and a con though.

Modularity rating: 5

I like the idea of having bigger blocks/modules and smaller topics/chapters within each module, even though I do not necessarily agree to the specific arrangement of the modules.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is well organized and it flows well from module to module. I have slightly different personal preferences for the specifics of the modules and chapters, but the structure of this book, as is, should be effective.

Interface rating: 4

I did not notice any significant interface issues in the book. It is very easy to navigate. I would suggest adding quizzes after each chapter. More colored photos, charts, and illustrations are always a plus. A minor issue is the spacing between the words varies from line to line.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not catch any grammatical error. Some sentences run quite long, though.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book is heavily invested in culture. Not only does it have a separate chapter on Culture, but it discusses the implications of culture whenever relevant. Moreover, whenever the book addresses the culture issue, it includes a variety of different cultures rather than relying exclusively on the overly simplified western-eastern distinction.

Comments

I enjoyed reading the book. I would recommend it used as a textbook in an undergraduate social psychology class.

Reviewed by Kelly Chang, Associate Professor, George Fox University on 3/27/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Although this textbook includes 27 modules specifically chosen to represent social psychology, instructors are able to take modules out, edit them, and add more content from over 103 modules in the Noba Psychology collection. Thus, the textbook can be as comprehensive as instructors want.
This collection also includes a glossary that covers the terms in these 27 modules. Each module also includes it’s own glossary at the end. In the online version, clicking on bold vocabulary terms allows you to see the definition without losing your place. Similarly, clicking on citations produces the reference information without losing your place. In the .pdf version, clicking on the vocabulary term takes you to the glossary at the end.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

One of the strengths of this text is that each chapter is written by an established expert on the specific topic. In contrast to textbooks in which every chapter is written by a generalist who tries to explain many topics shallowly, these chapters are each based on a career of research on the specific issue.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The Noba collection is recent and still growing. Representatives say that the content will be kept up-to-date. Over time, instructors would have the option to switch out older modules for newer ones if they feel certain topics have become more relevant. They can also taylor topics to be more relevant to their student population. For example, since I often have nursing students in my Social Psychology class, I might choose to add the module "The Healthy Life", which covers the connection between psychology and health.

Clarity rating: 4

Since the modules are each written by different authors, there is no general statement that can answer this question. However, the parts that I have read do seem to be clear, accessible, and organized. Considering the large number of contributors, I am pleasantly surprised by the sense of consistency in writing style. That said, there are always topics that are more difficult for students than others, and I would not be surprised if students report a need for more clarity in those.

Consistency rating: 4

The text is module-based, and therefore different parts can be mixed in. The Together: The Science of Social Psychology collection provides some order and organization. Since the modules aren’t written to build on each other, there is more risk of redundancy than of inconsistency. The organization of the modules is consistent: Introduction, Learning Objectives, text with pictures (with sections usually not longer than 2 pages each), Conclusions, Outside Resources (mostly web links), Discussion Questions, Vocabulary, and References. This consistent framework will help students know what to expect, even as authors change. Nonetheless, I'm rating a 4 out of 5 because with so many different authors, there is a risk of inconsistent terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

With 27 chapters in 8 units, the modules in this textbook provide some structure, but can easily be organized according to what an instructor most wants to cover. The modules are written with no prescribed order, so reorganizing chapters will not disrupt the flow of information. Since I like to have student groups teach chapter sections as part of their term project, this will be very helpful in providing them many options to choose from. Some chapters could be selected based on the instructor’s emphasis, as well. For example, if it’s an upper-level research-focused program, there are advanced chapters on research to choose from.

Since each chapter is written by an expert on the topic, some of them may seem overly self-referential. However they are arguably justifiable self-references, and at least it is not one author self-citing in every chapter.
For example, McAdams, a leading researcher on narrative identity, writes mainly about his theory of narrative identity development in the chapter on the Self and Identity, citing seven of his own works. While narrative identity is certainly a helpful theory for our students to learn, he barely even nods toward any other significant research on topics like self-perception theory, self-judgment, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-enhancement, and the self-reference effect (all topics covered in the chapter on the self that my current textbook includes). Since this is the only unit on the self (in this collection), important findings in this area, covering these terms, as well as research on our ability to understand and predict our own behavior are not covered.
However, there are modules in Noba Psychology on Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation, and more, if an instructor decides those are important to add in.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The modules chosen for this textbook are organized in a logical, clear fashion (see table of contents). Again, an instructor can switch modules and reorganize them if desired.

Interface rating: 5

Chapters can be read online or downloaded as .pdf files.

Online, each chapter has an interactive table of contents (TOC), learning objectives, a list of links to interesting outside resources (occasionally with imbedded videos), discussion questions, and a glossary of terms. All of these are pedagogically useful for instructors and students. However, the second level of headings (within the text content) is not interactive, so clicking on the TOC only works for the supplementary resources, not sections of the chapter. Using a search function (online or in the pdf) makes up for that.

When I first started examining this text, there were occasional disruptions such as “peace & conflict” and “future—to.” However, a few months later, those are no longer apparent. This could be either because of Noba’s editing process or my browser’s updated features (I’m reading it on Google Chrome).

Downloaded files (pdf) do not have an interactive TOC. Clicking vocabulary terms takes you to the glossary, though you have to scroll back up to find your place again afterward.
On either the online or downloaded version, the formatting is clean, attractive, and easy to read and navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I have not read everything with an editor’s eye, but so far, none have stood out to me.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Social psychology, despite starting out as Western-biased as the rest of psychology, has generally led the field in terms of inclusion and attention to culture. This collection includes a chapter on culture, a chapter on culture and emotion, and a chapter on prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. You can also find references to culture and national comparisons on concepts in other chapters.

Comments

I was surprised by the level of support offered with this open textbook. Noba is supported by the nonprofit Diener Education Fund, and has staff available to guide instructors through the Noba site, explain how to edit and save textbooks, and give access to instructor resources, including for each manual: instructor’s manual (with APA guideline learning objectives, specific learning objectives, lecture outlines, activities, and links to more materials), PowerPoint slides (though the embedded videos did not work for me—I eventually found them linked in the instructor’s manual), and a test bank. For students, they also have online quizzes (this involves an external website), the ability to order inexpensive print copies, and a new feature called “reading anticipation guides” which have students guess outcomes and answers before reading the module.
The Noba website also includes Teaching Topic Essays and a blog (about 3-4 entries per month) with teaching tips and resources.

Reviewed by Jane Guiller, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University on 2/1/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Social psychology is a wide ranging topic and the book covers the broad 5 categories of the sub-discipline. Virtually all of the topics that I expected to be there featured at some point in the textbook, although there was a lack of content regarding crowd behaviour and intergroup conflict. Learning objectives are included at start of every chapter, glossary, discussion questions, web resources and references. I liked the focus on real-world applications interspersed with research examples, although at times felt that there were missed opportunities for the latter and a lack of applied chapters. I found the web resources really useful and interesting but needs to be more text to relate these to chapter content and relevance. Emotional contagion and social manipulation on Facebook are mentioned as an outside resource but references to these are absent in text. Although there are attempts to discuss the impact of technological advances on the field, more on technology and the impact on social psychology as a field could have been included.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

In general, I found the content to be accurate, error-free and unbiased. Cross cultural research is featured but more so in some chapters than others. There is a bias towards North American content and research evident in terms of absence of European/British research and journal publications such as European Journal of Social Psychology and British Journal of Social Psychology. As a UK social psychologist, for me there was a notable absence of Moscovici’s social representations theory in Ch. 6 Self and Identity and absence of the citation of primary sources and key theorists, such as the British psychologists Tajfel and Turner (1979) in relation to references to Social Identity Theory. In Ch. 20, there is a notable absence of reference to updated material regarding ‘the parable of the 38 witnesses’ in the Kitty Genovese case and the Manning, Levine and Collins (2007) paper in American Psychologist. This paper argues that there is a lack of evidence regarding the presence of 38 witnesses or that they remained inactive. This is a very important example of how key material presented in textbook has biased the discipline of social psychology.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

Reference to classic studies is effectively interspersed with more up-to-date material. There is reference to classic studies revisited and updated material e.g. Triplett (1898) and Stroebe (2012). Recent discussion on the so-called replicability crisis in social psychology is included in Ch 2 but this is somewhat sparse. Necessary updates will be relatively easy to and straightforward to implement. An example would be the recently published paper by Hollander & Turowetz (2017) in the British Journal of Social Psychology article on Milgram’s classic obedience experiment, which analyses the original interview transcripts to suggest that most participants realised the experiment was not really dangerous. However more could have been made of the importance of technological developments on social psychology research and the future of the field. For example, the advantages and use of virtual reality environments to replace lab-based experiments using actors/confederates, e.g. in bystander intervention research and ‘virtual shoes’, i.e. being able to step into someone else’s experience and the impact on empathy. The book begins with a discussion on the influence of smartphones on our behaviour and relationships and ends with a reference to the importance of social media relationships in modern times. The use of big data in Ch.2 and the use of smartphones to collect data in Ch 2 and Ch 3 is there, but there are missed opportunities in relation to e.g. online selves and digital identities, upward/downward social comparison on social media and group polarisation online. I felt that in Ch. 3 the subsection ‘Studying Online Behavior’ was a little outdated in terms of references; the most recent citation was 2012. There is now an abundance of research articles on social psychology and Facebook and recent debates regarding e.g. political unfriending on FB or social manipulation regarding voting behaviour are not mentioned.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in clear and accessible prose throughout.

Consistency rating: 3

There is a consistent structure in terms of the features of the text, the learning objectives, chapter prose, discussion questions, glossary, web resources and references but there is inconsistency and overlap in terms of content. There is some attempt at cross-referencing to other NOBA modules but cross-referencing to specific content in other chapters is absent. For example, references to Culture of Honor studies by Cohen et al. (1996) in Chapter 2 don’t acknowledge that this material was mentioned in Ch 1. Because of the modular nature of the textbook, there is a lot of repetition throughout in terms of theoretical concepts yet very little cross-referencing. However, this is not necessarily problematic in terms of students’ learning and could actually work to their advantage, especially if instructors set assignments around drawing the material together on a particular concept and its relationship to the various subtopics. Chapters are varied in terms of style and quality, although generally of a high standard throughout. Some chapters are written by those well-known in their fields (e.g. Burger, Buss), which adds to the credibility of the textbook.

Modularity rating: 4

Modularity is both a pro and a con of the textbook, as in my previous point. That said, I did enjoy reading the text as a whole.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 2

The text lacks a logical and clear structure due to the modular nature of the textbook and the multiple authors, along with the lack of cross-referencing throughout. I couldn’t really make sense of the structure other than very loosely related sub-topics brought together under a sub-heading.

Interface rating: 4

The vocabulary list is useful but clicking on links just take you to the page rather than the specific word. Would be more useful if could hover over the word to get the definition if possible. This would not interrupt the flow as I had to scroll back to the point at which I was reading. Due to the modular nature of the text there is a lot of repetition in the text regarding concepts and definitions as glossaries appear at the end of each chapter instead of one vocabulary list at the end of the textbook. There were a few examples of text appearing in a different size but there were no significant issues.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is generally very well-written and free from grammatical errors. Some errors regarding referencing style, e.g. not all journal titles are in italics.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I did not find the text culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. There were some good examples from across cultures. As previously mentioned, it is biased towards North American research and publications and key European and British studies on e.g. social representations theory, social identity theory and bystander intervention is absent. There is also a lack of critical social psychology and qualitative social psychological research.

Comments

Overall, I found this textbook to be very readable and accessible. I enjoyed reading the material and at times found it up-to-date and relevant to social psychology in the 21st century, although improvements could be made to make it more relevant to today's students and in terms of real world application and critical social psychology.

Reviewed by Jessica Salvatore, Assistant Professor, Sweet Briar College on 8/15/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This “ready-made textbook” is a compilation of relevant modules from the much larger family of NOBA modules. Together they cover standard topics (persuasion), some less-standard ones (the family), and one applied area (I/O psychology). Unfortunately, the key area of intergroup relations and intergroup conflict receives extremely short shrift; the closest coverage is a single module on stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Curiously, the available module on the “replication crisis” was not selected for inclusion. A stand-alone combined glossary is provided at the end, as well as a helpful module-specific glossary at the end of each module.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I would have no qualms about assigning these modules to students as a supplementary/reference text. With that said, social psychology is in flux and there are some questions about the replicability of studies that are reviewed herein. I urge instructors who may want to adopt this book to be proactive in providing commentary to their students as this situation develops. See also my comments on international bias, below.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

NOBA as a whole has shown itself able to capture trajectories in the field better than most traditional textbooks do. It is also helpful that the modules are written by some of the most central figures in the research they are describing (e.g., Jerry Burger, who published a major update of the Milgram study, authored the module on social influence). The authors for the most part selected evergreen examples – such as the Channel Tunnel construction as a “hook” into the topic of cooperation.

Clarity rating: 5

The writing is clear across all the modules.

Consistency rating: 3

The same elements are included in each module (e.g., discussion questions) and terminology, where appropriate, appears consistent. With that said, each module was written by (a) different author(s) and there are points of disconcerting overlap. The modules may provide similar coverage yet not be in productive conversation with each other. I think it would be possible for an instructor to turn this into a useful feature of the textbook by creating assignments where students engage more actively with the material by, for example, contrasting the coverage of attachment theory, cultural relativism, etc. across modules.

Modularity rating: 5

The book is designed intentionally to prioritize modularity, and this ends up being both a bug and a feature (see above and below).

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 2

The book is organized somewhat arbitrarily, with disparate topics loosely grouped under slightly more abstract topical headings and no segues between these groupings. (Or perhaps the organization is not as arbitrary as it seems, but there is nothing like an introduction to explain the logic of the sequence we are provided.) This modular experience may work best for an instructor who wants her students to have a supplementary/reference text for a few topics. However, I do not think it works well as a primary text for a social psychology course that relies heavily on the text to provide internal coherence, synthesis, overarching questions and frameworks, etc.

Interface rating: 5

The interface is easy to use. Useful ancillary materials are provided both in the modules – though the depth of these varies considerably across modules -- and (password-protected) elsewhere online.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Generally the grammar and proofreading are good; I caught only a few typos in one module.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Although not insensitive as a rule (I did see one instance of the word "lame" used as an insult), the book is extremely intrapsychic in focus; avoids any explicit coverage of qualitative research methods; and in other ways signals strongly that it takes a North-America-centric perspective.

Comments

In addition to my comments above, I would have liked to see more critical perspectives on the research described – particularly regarding the “lore” that has sprung up around many of the field’s classic studies, which are often covered somewhat superficially.

Reviewed by Helen Harton, Professor, University of Northern Iowa on 2/15/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This "book" is a compilation of modules on topics (some broad, some fairly specific) written for the most part by researchers, often well-known ones, within those areas. The website says the publication date is 2016, but most of the chapters seem to be written earlier than that. The methods chapters seem the most up-to-date, with a couple of references from 2014/2015, but for most chapters the most recent research cited is from 2011, and for some, including areas that are rapidly changing such as social neuroscience, the most recent references are from 2009.

Because the modules are often fairly specific, they cover some topics that you wouldn't necessarily see in a traditional social psychology textbook (e.g., social neuroscience,culture and emotion, theory of mind, the family). The methods chapters in particular cover a more recent methods such as implicit measures and big data, and one of them at least mentions the replication crisis with priming. On the other hand, there are also things that you'd typically see in a social psychology textbook that get left out. For example, there is no mention throughout the modules of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (they introduce the idea, but not the theory per se) or any discussion of the relationship between attitudes and behavior or the theories (e.g., Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior) related to those. In the prejudice chapter, there's not much on threat or evolutionary approaches or research on ways to reduce prejudice such as contact. There are several modules that deal with relationships, but no mention of the Investment Model. As a final example, the cultural module mentions individualism vs. collectivism and vertical vs. horizontal, but doesn't describe some of the other ways cultures have been differentiated in social psychology (e.g., tight vs. loose).

Part of the reason some of this is left out is that the modules are fairly short, and their comprehensiveness varies based on module author(s). The modules provide overviews of the areas, but there is a lot of variety in the depth they go into. Some chapters have many references from a broad range of authors, whereas another has only 8 references (6 of which the module author is co-author on).

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The modules seem accurate, but not always up-to-date. There are some places where I noticed inconsistencies that may be confusing or problematic. For example, "hypothesis" is defined differently in two different methods chapters (and appears twice in the overall glossary, one for each definition). One of the definitions I don't agree with, and the second I didn't think was a great definition either. As another example, the method chapter mentioned how some priming studies had been found not to replicate and why that was important, but there was no mention of these potential issues in the social cognition module when that research was discussed.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

Because the book is in modules, an instructor could easily choose to use some and not others. Most of the modules were five or more years old it seemed, but the degree to which that might matter will depend on the topic covered in the module. There weren't many current event examples in the modules, so there wasn't much to go out-of-date there (e.g., mentions of elections or particular events).

Clarity rating: 4

Overall the modules were easy to read, although this differed somewhat by module, as they were written by different authors. I thought some parts of the statistics chapter in particular would be difficult for some undergraduates.

Consistency rating: 2

There isn't a consistent framework (e.g., theoretical focus, theme) for the modules. They differ in their topics, in the breadth of their topics, and in the approach the authors take. There are similarities in that each module begins with learning objectives, and ends with web resources, discussion questions, and learning objectives, and a glossary.

Modularity rating: 5

You could easily use just parts of this book, and I think that most instructors would.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

There aren't any connections between modules, but the modules generally present things clearly.

Interface rating: 4

It's only available in pdf right now. It would be nice to have other formats so that students could highlight sections more easily. It was readable on my computer and my phone. Definitions appear if you hover over the vocabulary words.

Grammatical Errors rating: 3

I didn't notice any grammatical errors, but the references were often not in APA style. I teach APA style in my classes, so I think that it's important than a textbook follow it.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

There were not many specific examples (somewhat surprisingly) in the modules, so it should be relevant across cultures. The modules generally reported research only from Western countries (I would prefer that they also discuss cultural effects where relevant), but there were two chapters that explicitly dealt with culture.

Comments

I think these reviews would be more useful to potential adopters if they were written by people who have already used the books in their courses. I also think they should allow people to post anonymous reviews. As far as I know, the only way one can write these reviews is to go to a presentation by the group and receive a time-linked invitation. It's also important to note that reviewers are paid for reviews. As far as this particular book goes, I think it would be especially useful to supplement other chapters and/or articles in a class where the instructor did not want to use a traditional textbook.