Myers EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed)

Transcription

1 Myers EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed) Chapter 1 (& Appendix A) Thinking Critically with Psychological Science Modified from: James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Worth Publishers

2 Psych Science Born Wundt 1 st psych lab - University of Leipzig (1879) 1 st psych experiment Seeking to measure atoms of mind -fastest, simplest mental processes

3 Psychology: Not Easily Defined Late 1800s until 1920s Science of mental life Ex. Wundt, Titchener, James 1920s until 1960s Science of observable behavior Ex. Watson, Skinner (Behaviorism) 1960s through today Incorporate both ideas Origin in Many Countries & Disciplines

4 Psychology s Current Definition The Science of: Behavior AND What we do; can observe & record action Ex. Yelling, smiling, blinking, talking, etc. Mental processes Internal, subjective experiences inferred from behavior Ex. Sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, etc.

5 Contemporary Psychology Nature-nurture controversy Relative contribution that genes & experience make to development of psychological traits & behaviors

6 Biopsychosocial Approach

7 Contemporary Psychology Basic Research Pure science that aims to increase scientific knowledge base Applied Research Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

8 Psychology s Subfields: Research Psychologist Biological Developmental Cognitive Personality Social What she does Explore the links between brain and mind. Study changing abilities from womb to tomb. Study how we perceive, think, and solve problems. Investigate our persistent traits. Explore how we view and affect one another.

9 Psychology s Subfields: Applied Psychologist Clinical Counseling Educational Industrial/ Organizational What she does Studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders Helps people cope with academic, vocational, and marital challenges. Studies and helps individuals in school and educational settings Studies and advises on behavior in the workplace.

10 Clinical Psych vs. Psychiatry Clinical Psychology Branch of psychology that studies, assesses, & treats people with psychological disorders Psychiatry Branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders Practiced by physicians who sometimes use medical (ex. drug) treatments as well as psychotherapy

11 Limits of Intuition & Common Sense Hindsight Bias Tendency to believe, after learning outcome, that we would have foreseen it I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon Overconfidence Tendency to think we know more than we do

12 Limits of Intuition & Common Sense How long do you think it Anagram would take to unscramble these anagrams? WREAT ETYRN GRABE WATER ENTRY BARGE 12

13 Scientific Attitude The Amazing Randi--Skeptic Critical Thinking Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments & conclusions but examines assumptions discerns hidden values evaluates evidence assesses conclusions

14 Scientific Method Science is based on: (Shulman) Knowledge of facts Developing theories Testing hypotheses Public & repeatable procedures

15 Scientific Method Theory Explanation using integrated set of principles that organizes (puts together) & predicts observations Hypothesis Testable prediction, often implied by theory

16 The Scientific Method Operational Definition Statement of procedures (operations) used to define research variables Ex. Intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures Replication Repeating essence of research study to see whether basic finding generalizes to other participants & circumstances

17 Scientific Method

18 Research Strategies/Methods Test hypotheses & refine theories by: Making observations that describe behavior (description) Detecting correlations that help predict behavior (correlation) Doing experiments that help explain behavior (experimentation)

19 Description Psychologists describe behavior using: Case studies Surveys Naturalistic observation

20 Description Case Study Observation technique in which 1 person is studied in depth in hopes of revealing universal principles Is language uniquely human?

21 Description Survey Technique for ascertaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors Usually by questioning representative, random sample

22 Sampling Population All cases in group from which samples may be drawn Random Sample Sample that fairly represents population because each member has equal chance of inclusion

23 Description Naturalistic Observation Observing & recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate & control

24 Correlation Statistical measure of relationship between 2 variables How closely 2 things vary together How well either predicts other Correlation coefficient Direction of relationship (positive or negative) Strength of relationship (0.00 to 1.00) Ex. r= +0.75

25 Correlation Scatterplots Graphed cluster of dots, each representing value of 2 variables Perfect positive correlation (+1.00) No relationship (0.00) Uncorrelated Perfect negative correlation (-1.00)

26 The Scientific Method

27 Correlation Three Possible Cause-Effect Relationships (1) Low self-esteem could cause or Depression (2) Depression (3) Distressing events or biological predisposition could cause or could cause Low self-esteem Low self-esteem and Depression

28 Illusory Correlation Perception of relationship where none exists Random Sequences

29 Experimentation Experiment Investigator manipulates 1 or more factors (IV) to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (DV) Control other relevant factors

30 Experimentation Independent Variable (IV) Experimental factor being manipulated Variable whose effect is being studied Dependent Variable (DV) Experimental factor that may change in response to manipulations of IV Usually behavior or mental process in psych

31 Experimentation Random Assignment Assigning to experimental & control conditions by chance Minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to different groups

32 Experimentation Experimental Condition Condition that exposes participants to treatment (1 version of IV) Control Condition Condition that contrasts with experimental treatment Comparison for evaluating effect of treatment

33 Experimentation Placebo Inert substance or condition may be administered instead of presumed active agent (e.g., drug) to see if it triggers effects believed to characterize active agent (if has effect, called placebo effect) Double-blind Procedure Participants & research staff ignorant (blind) about whether participants have received treatment or placebo Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies

34 Research Strategies/Methods

35 Appendix A: Statistical Reasoning Once data gathered, Organize Summarize Make inferences

36 Statistical Reasoning: Organize Percentage still functioning after 10 years 100% Our Brand Brand Brand Brand X Y Z Brand of truck

37 Statistical Reasoning: Organize Percentage still functioning after 10 years 100% Our Brand Brand Brand Brand X Y Z Brand of truck

38 Statistical Reasoning: Summarize Measures of Central Tendency Mode Mean Median Measures of Variability Range Standard Deviation

39 Statistical Reasoning: Summarize (Psych Sim)

40 Statistical Reasoning: Make inferences Are differences reliable? Representative samples better than biased Consistent data better than highly variable More cases better than fewer Are differences significant? (Use statistics) Statistical significance Statement of how likely it is that obtained result occurred by chance

41 THE END