1. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 1 Thinking Critically with Psychology

2. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.

3. What is a theory? 4 An explanation that organizes facts to predict 4 E.g. Self image and depression 4 Black holes in space

4. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. What is an hypothesis? 4 A testable prediction 4 Generally based on a theory

5. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 5 What do you study? - Variables 4 Variables 4 Independent variable 4 Dependent variable

6. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 6 How are variables related? - Correlation 4 Positive and negative

7. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 7 What is a positive correlation? 4 Mortality rates increase as people age 4 Grades increase as study time increase Grades Study time

8. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 8 What is no (zero) Correlation? Height Grades

9. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 9 What is negative correlation? 4 As income increases free time decreases 4 As one goes up, the other goes down Grades Party time

10. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 10 What is an illusory correlation? 4 Adoption and conception

11. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 11 Do not confuse correlation with causation 4 “Correlation is not causation” 4 Large brains (or ice cream) & violence

12. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. Do you remember? 12 4 What is a theory? 4 What is an hypothesis? 4 What types of variables are there? 4 What types of correlation are there? 4 If they are correlated, did one thing cause the other?

13. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 13 How do you get people to study? 4 Population –All NSCC students 4 Representative Sample 4 Random sample –Ensures a representative sample 4 Random assignment –Ensures groups are equal

14. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 14 Random sampling 4 Simple random Sample –Drawing names from a hat –Lottery 4 Systematic random sample –Every 10 th. Name

15. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. Do you remember? 4 What is a population? 4 What is the difference between random sample and random assignment? 4 What is the difference between a simple random sample and a systematic random sample? 15

16. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 16 What research methods does psychology use? 4 Survey 4 Case study –In depth study of one person E.g. Stroke victim 4 Naturalistic Observation –Observing behavior in a singles bar 4 Experimentation

17. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 17 The experiment 4 Groups –Experimental group –Control group 4 Problems –Placebo effect Placebo = Pill with no drug The double blind procedure –Neither experimenter nor subject knows which pill is the drug or placebo. –Hawthorne effect Subjects give the results they think the experimenter wants

18. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. Do you remember? 4 What research methods so psychologists use? 4 What is the difference between a case study and naturalistic observation? 4 What problems are there with an experiment? 4 What is a double blind study? –What problem does it attempt to solve? 18

19. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. What is replication? 4 Repeating a study 4 Helps to confirm the results of an earlier study 4 E.g. Classroom learning vs. distance learning –Cold fusion

20. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. What are some problems with thinking? 4 Seeing order in random events –E.g. 10 heads in a row of coin toss 4 Generalizing (Problems) –Generalizing from unrepresentative samples –Generalizing from select cases Most remedial reading students in Mrs. Brown’s class are boys Therefore, boys have more trouble reading than girls 4 Hindsight bias –Explaining events in hindsight Lee Harvey Oswald & Pres. Kennedy

21. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D. 21 Do you remember? 4 Why do psychologists want to replicate a study? 4 What are some problems with thinking? 4 After you know the results of a study, they appear obvious. What is this called?

22. © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.