1. Introduction to Psychology

2. Psychology’s Roots Early History Trephining : chipping a Wilhelm Wundt
hole in a patient's skull.
Evil sprits could then escape!
Wilhelm Wundt
Established the first experimental laboratory devoted to psychology.
Structuralism
Focused on the basic building blocks of perception, consciousness, thinking, and emotions
- Introspection

3. Psychology’s Roots Functionalism
Moved from structure to the role behaviour plays in allowing people to adapt to their environments
William James
Gestalt Psychology
“the whole is different from the sum of its parts”
Ebbinghaus

4. Gestalt psychology

5. Activity
Schools of Thought Worksheet

6. Psychology as a science
Psychology uses the scientific method to find answers to our questions

7. What is a theory? List some famous theories
Theory of Relativity (E=mc2) - Einstein
Evolutionary Theory – Darwin
Theory of Gravity – Newton
Quantum Mechanics
Big Bang Theory
Structural Theory – Wundt
Functional Theory – James
Gestalt Theory – Kohler
Behavioural Theory – Skinner
Psychoanalytic Theory – Freud
Humanistic Theory – Maslow
Cognitive Theory – Piaget, Bandura (CANADIAN!)

8. What is a Theory?
A principle or set of rules that are created to explain why and how events occur
Organizes facts
Guides research
A theory needs to be falsifiable
This means that can be tested and rejected if the theory does not stand true
Remember that a theory is not a certainty… it cannot be completely proven or disproven

9. To create a theory, we need to do research!

10. Types of research
There are two ways to conduct research: basic and applied
Basic research investigates topics to seek new knowledge and to explore general science and understanding
Applied research solves practical problems; focused on influencing behaviours

11. Research methods Descriptive Research Methods: Experimental Method
Naturalistic observation
Laboratory observation
Case study
Survey
Experimental Method
Correlational Method
Psychological Tests

12. Descriptive research methods
Naturalistic Observation: the researcher observes and records behaviours in a natural setting; participants may or may not know they are being observed
Researcher watching students play at recess
Laboratory Observation: the researcher observes and records behaviours in a controlled environment; participants usually know they are being observed
Observation in a play area
Case Study: an in-depth study, usually long-term, of a participant using observation, interviews, or psychological testing
The study of Genie – “feral girl”
Survey: interviews or questionnaires used to gather information about behaviours, beliefs, etc
Stress questionnaires

13. Experimental method
Using manipulation of variables (independent and dependent), and random assignment of participants into groups; results are measured
Independent variable: The variable that is manipulated by an experimenter
Dependent variable: The variable that is measured and is expected to change as a result of the IV
A psychologist wants to determine whether caffeine has an effect on grades. He gives the experimental group of students coffee and the control group receives no coffee, he then gives both groups of students a test. What is the DV? IV?

14. Correlational method
Determines whether a relationship exists between two variables (events, characteristics, behaviours)
Does not rule causation
Can have a strong, weak, positive or negative relationship

15. Psychological tests
Tests which are taken by participants that can measure certain variables (intelligence, stress level, personality traits, aptitudes, etc)

16. Activity – Research Methods Worksheet

17. Avoiding Experimental Bloopers
Experimenter Bias
Experimenter Expectations
Participant Expectations

18. Experimenter Bias

19. Thought experiment
You are a College Professor conducting research on the effects of caffeine on your dreams. You have a limited budget to conduct this study. What research method would you choose? Why?

20. Thought experiment con’t
After you have decided which research method to use, who will you be conducting your research on? Who will be your participants? Remember you want to be able to generalize your findings to the general public and you have limited funds.

21. Participants in research
In a perfect world, participants should be a group of people that represent the general population – they should represent different races, religions, genders, ages, opinions, SES, etc. (Unless the study calls for specific participants)
However, many variables limit this (funding, availability, etc.)

22. So where do we get our participants?
Participants are usually college/university students who are encouraged to participate in the study by their Professors
There is usually a payment for participation or the student will receive a bonus mark in the course
There tends to be an over-representation of males, and Caucasians

23. What can we do to make our study generalizable?

24. Animal studies

25. Animal studies… bittersweet
Animal studies have been very useful in psychological studies
The use of animals have allowed psychologists to understand and develop vital theories
Today, animal rights are protected by the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists and the Canadian Council on Animal Care
However, it has not always been this way…

26. Ethics
To protect the rights of both humans and animals ethical standards must be in place
Studies must be approved by an ethics committee, using the guidelines provided by the Canadian Psychological Association
It is very important that these guidelines are followed as people have different views on what they deem as ethical behaviour