1. Chapter 1: The Science Of Psychology

2. What is Psychology? What is Psychology? What do psychologists do?
How have psychologists affected our lives?

3. What is Psychology?

4. What is Psychology?
Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Scientific study: utilizes the scientific method
Behavior: observable events
Mental processes: thoughts, feelings, and perceptions
Psychology’s goal is to describe, predict, explain, and control (or change) behavior

5. iRespond Question F
Multiple Choice
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Dr. Amani is interested in investigating why women are more able to correctly interpret emotional expressions than are men. He is most interested in the scientific goal of _____.
A.) explanation
B.) prediction
Answer is A: explanation
C.) description
D.) control
E.)

6. The Biological Approach
Focuses on the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions
Genetics, heredity, and evolution
Instincts
Hormones and neurotransmitters

7. The Behavioral Approach
John B. Watson,
B. F. Skinner
Scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants
Patterns of reward and punishment

8. The Psychodynamic Approach
Sigmund Freud
Emphasizes unconscious thoughts
Conflict between biological drives and the demands of society
Early childhood experiences are especially important

9. The Humanistic Approach
Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
All individuals have an inborn drive to grow, develop, and be fulfilled
Emphasis on free will
Unconditional positive regard
Conditions of worth

10. The Cognitive Approach
Focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world
Brain is viewed as a problem-solving supercomputer
Our behavior is affected by how we process information

11. The Evolutionary Approach
Uses evolutionary principles (adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection) to explain human behaviors
Aggression
Fear
Mating patterns

12. The Sociocultural Approach
Examines the influences of society and culture on behavior
Compares behavior across countries
Compares group differences within a country

13. Seven Contemporary Approaches
Industrial-Organizational
Community
Personality
Forensic
Social
Health
Sensation and Perception
Clinical and Counseling
Motivation and Emotion
Learning
Cognitive
Behavioral Neuroscience
Developmental
Sport

14. Seven Contemporary Approaches
You are studying alcoholism. What kinds of questions would researchers from each perspective be interested in asking?
Biological
Behavioral
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Cognitive
Evolutionary
Sociocultural

15. The Scientific Method Five steps: Observing some phenomenon
Formulating hypotheses and predictions
Testing through empirical research
Drawing conclusions
Evaluating conclusions

16. The Scientific Method Variable: anything that can change
Theory: a broad explanation or prediction about the topic of interest
Must be falsifiable
Hypothesis: a prediction that is stated in a way that allows it to be tested
Operational definition: the translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures
Ex: helping behavior

17. Types of Research: Descriptive
Naturalistic observation: behavior is observed in its natural environment, with no interference
Advantages: natural, spontaneous behavior
Disadvantages: researcher has no control

18. Types of Research: Descriptive
Surveys: a representative sample of people are asked questions about various topics
Advantages: quick and inexpensive
Disadvantages:
Sample may not be representative
Bias may skew results
People may not respond honestly

19. Types of Research: Descriptive
Case study: behavior of one person or a group of people is studied in-depth
Advantages:
Provides detailed, descriptive information
Useful for forming hypotheses
Disadvantages:
May not apply to other people / groups
Time consuming and expensive
Researcher bias

20. D6EBD51C-BA2C-3F48-AD1D-E74F484BD48E
iRespond Question F
Multiple Choice
Dr.Okawa is interested in studying the effect that neurological trauma can have on short-term memory. First, he collects detailed information from a small number of individuals who have experienced brain damage. Then, using information provided by medical records, interviews, and observations, Dr. Okawa attempts to create an in-depth portrait of each individual. What type of research method was used in this study?
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A.) Case study
B.) Naturalistic observation
C.) Experimental method
E.)
D.) Survey

21. Types of Research: Correlation
The relationship between two variables is examined to determine if they are associated
Correlation coefficient (+1 to -1) tells us the strength and the direction of the relationship
Positive: varies together
Negative: varies opposite
Larger relationship closer to 1

22. Types of Research: Correlation

23. Types of Research: Correlation
Correlation does not equal causation!

24. Types of Research: Experimental
Treatment: manipulation used by an experimenter
Experimental group: group that receives treatment manipulation
Control group: group that does not receive treatment manipulation
Independent variable: the variable being manipulated
Dependent variable: the variable being measured
Random assignment

25. Research Ethics Experiments must follow APA guidelines
Protection of participants from physical and mental harm
Right of participants to privacy
Assurance that participation in research is completely voluntary
IRB (independent research board) approves all experiments
Informed consent
Debriefing
Deception?