LP 1A: Intro 1

09/15/14

The Science of Psychology

1.1 Why Study Psychology?
• Psychology is about You and about Us
• Psychologist Explain Human Behavior in Real-Life
Contexts
• Psychological Knowledge is Used in Many Professions
• Psychological Science Teaches Critical Thinking

1.2 What are the Scientific Foundations of Psychology?

• The Nature/Nurture Debate Has a Long History
• The Mind/Body Problem Also has Ancient Roots
• Experimental Psychology Began with Introspection
• Introspection and Other Methods Led to Structuralism
• Functionalism Addresses the Purpose of Behavior
• Gestalt Psychology Emphasized Patterns and Context in
Learning
• Women Have Helped Shape the Field
• Freud Emphasized the Power of the Unconscious
• Behaviorism Studied Environmental Forces
• Cognitive Approaches Emphasized Mental Activity
• Social Psychology Studies How Situations Shape
Behavior
• Science Informs Psychological Therapy

1.3 What are the Latest Developments in Psychology?

• Biology is Increasingly Important
• Evolution is Increasingly Important
• Culture Provides Adaptive Solutions
• Psychological Science Now Crosses Levels of Analysis
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09/15/14

Research Methodology
2.1 What is Scientific Inquiry?
• The Scientific Method Depends on Theories, Hypotheses, and
Research
• Unexpected findings Can Be Valuable
2.2 What Types of Studies are Used?
• Descriptive Studies Involve Observing and Classifying
Behavior
• Correlational Studies Examine How Variables Are Related
• An Experiment Involves Manipulating Conditions
• Critical Thinking Skill: Identifying the Need for Control
Groups
• Random Sampling and Random Assignment Are Important for
Research
• Critical Thinking Skill: Recognizing That Large Samples
Generate More Reliable Results than Smaller Samples
2.3 What Are the Data Collection Methods of Psychological
Science?
• Observing is An Unobtrusive Strategy
• Case Studies Examine Individual Lives and Organizations
• Asking Takes a More Active Approach
• Response Performance Measures the Processing of
Information
• Body/Brain Activity Can be Measured Directly
• Research with Animals Provides Important Data
• There are Ethical Issues to Consider
• Psychology: Knowledge You can use: Should I participate
in Psychological Research
2.4 How are Data Analyzed and Evaluated?
• Good Research Requires Valid, Reliable, and Accurate Data
• Descriptive Statistics Provide a Summary of the Data
• Correlations Describe the Relationships between Variables
• Inferential Statistics Permit Generalizations
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09/15/14

Introduction to Psychology

In general, psychology is defined as the scientific study

behavior and mental processes and how they are affected
by an organism’s:
• physical state (biological),
• mental state (psychological), and
• external environment.

Image source: Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior, (2004), Passer and Smith

People are often unaware of the factors (and might deny)

the influences on their behavior and thinking.

Taking a psychology course should demonstrate how

complicated human behavior is. To understand it, we
need to understand multiple perspectives of psychology.
.
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Video: Awareness Test

1) Expectations (knowing there is a moonwalking bear)

influence what you see and don’t see. It is easier to
see the moonwalking bear when you expect it.
2) People are not very good at multi-tasking. You can
fail to notice small things when you are not expecting
them.
3) You can be influenced without your awareness.
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09/15/14

Video #1 of 5: Beliefs that Make You Fail…or Succeed

• There are no quick fixes

• You can spend lots of time with an ineffective strategy
and get nowhere

Beliefs that make you stupid

1) Learning is fast
2) Knowledge is composed of isolated facts
3) Being good at a subject is a matter of inborn talent
4) I’m really good at multi-tasking

Metacognition: A student’s awareness of their level of

understanding a topic.

Those with low metacognition are unaware of what they

understand and don’t understand. Those with high
metacognition are aware of what they understand and
don’t understand.

Image source: Beliefs That Make You Stupid, part 1