Questions and Answers
The __________ focuses on the role of different parts of the brain in regulating feelings, memories, emotions and other aspects of behaviour.
biological approach
Focus of the __________ is on the information processing capacity of the individual.
cognitive approach
The __________ assumes that the person is an active and self-actualizing agent and has a choice in deciding his behaviour.
humanistic approach
According to the __________, the majority of human behaviours are triggered by unconscious motivation.
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The unit of analysis for the __________ is explicit, objective and overt behaviour and its relationship with environmental stimulation.
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What is the primary focus of biological psychology?
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Who is considered the father of the psychoanalytic approach?
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What is the primary method of inquiry used in observational psychology?
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What is the aim of using experimental methods in psychology?
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What distinguishes a case study in psychology?
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Observation is divided into ________________ and ________________
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In an experiment the experimenter studies the effect of one variable on the other by deliberately ______________ and ______________ one variable.
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In the case study method the main unit of analysis is the ________________ and his experiences across different contexts in life.
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The variable which is controlled and manipulated by the experimenter is called ________________ variable and the variable on which its impact is studied is known as ________________ variable.
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________________ method is generally used to study the pattern of opinions, attitudes, beliefs and values of the people.
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A ________________ provides an objective assessment of different qualities and limitations of the individual.
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______________ of a test refers to its consistency in terms yielding the scores from the representative sample for which it has been designed.
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______________ of a test reveals the extent to which the test measures what it claims to measure.
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A ________________ uses ambiguous, vague and unstructured stimuli such as pictures, inkblots, drawings, incomplete sentences.
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The items (questions) of the questionnaire can be either in ________________ form or in ________________ form.
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Interview as one of the techniques of data collection is often referred as a ________________ between two persons with a set objective.
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In the case of ________________, the questions are already framed with the possible options.
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______________ comprises of a variety of open-ended questions and the interviewee gives his or her responses as freely as possible.
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Study Notes
Methods of Psychology
- Psychologists utilize systematic scientific procedures with theoretical foundations to interpret psychological phenomena.
- Various methodological approaches exist to understand and explain human behavior and mental processes.
Approaches to Psychological Processes
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Biological Approach
- Focuses on biological structures, such as the brain, genes, hormones, and neurotransmitters, to understand behavior dynamics.
- Explores how brain regions regulate feelings and memories, and studies the impact of hormone secretion on behavior.
- Includes behavior genetics, examining genetic determinants of behavior.
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Psychoanalytic Approach
- Founded by Sigmund Freud, who emphasized unconscious motivations influencing behavior.
- Analyzes different layers of consciousness: conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.
- Uses methods like dream analysis and examination of slips of the tongue to reveal unconscious mental content.
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Humanistic Approach
- Developed by Carl Rogers, emphasizing conscious experiences and the individual's capacity for self-actualization.
- Focuses on interpersonal experiences and psychological growth, asserting individuals have agency in their behavior.
- Advocates for therapeutic environments fostering genuineness and unconditional positive regard.
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Behaviorist Approach
- Centers on observable behaviors and their relationship with environmental stimuli.
- J.B. Watson, a key figure, emphasized the objective analysis of behavior governed by stimulus-response associations.
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Cognitive Approach
- Addresses information processing capabilities such as thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.
- Suggests behavior relies on how individuals process and interpret information.
- Relies on computational models to understand mental processes.
Methods to Understand Psychological Processes
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Psychological research embodies objectivity, testability, self-correction, and replication, ensuring reliable insights into human behavior.
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Observation
- A systematic method of recording events without interfering variables.
- Types include naturalistic (in natural settings) and laboratory observation (controlled environment).
- Participant observation involves researcher interaction, while non-participant maintains distance.
- The observational method can be time-consuming and prone to researcher biases.
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Experimentation
- Involves manipulating an independent variable (IV) to observe effects on a dependent variable (DV).
- Participants are divided into experimental and control groups to assess variable impacts.
- Controls are necessary for organismic, situational, and sequential variables to ensure valid results.
- Experimentation techniques include elimination of extraneous variables and random assignment to minimize biases.
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Case Study
- Focuses on individual experiences and interactions across various contexts, often used in clinical psychology.
- Data is gathered from multiple sources, including medical and social histories, to create comprehensive profiles.
- Detailed case histories highlight unique life experiences and psychological issues but require validation of collected data.
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Survey
- Gathers public opinions or attitudes on various issues via structured questions, often disseminated through media outlets.
Conclusion
- Understanding human behavior requires diverse approaches and methods, each offering unique insights into the complexities of psychology.### Survey Research
- Conducts opinion polls to gauge public support for political parties and issues.
- Commonly used in psychology, sociology, political science, and management.
- Studies opinions, attitudes, beliefs, and values.
- Helps test hypotheses about relationships between variables using various sources (interviews, questionnaires, SMS).
Psychological Tools
- Essential for gathering data in psychological research.
- Includes paper instruments or software for collecting verbal, written, behavioral, or physiological responses.
Psychological Tests
- Measure intelligence, aptitude, and interest, based on theoretical frameworks.
- Administered individually or in groups; scores indicate individual standing relative to others.
- Must possess reliability (consistency of scores) and validity (accuracy of measurements).
- Can be verbal (oral responses) or non-verbal (performance-based).
- Objective tests have limited response options, while projective tests use ambiguous stimuli allowing free responses.
Questionnaires
- Comprise a set of questions requiring responses in open-ended or closed-ended formats.
- Closed-ended items offer limited choices; open-ended items allow unrestricted responses.
- Easily administered to large groups, with clear language for better comprehension.
Interviews
- Involve face-to-face interactions aimed at understanding personal characteristics.
- Can be structured (pre-formulated questions) or unstructured (flexible with open-ended questions).
- Skills required include establishing rapport, effective question framing, and emotional control.
Research Methodologies
- Observational Method: Describes behaviors in both natural and laboratory settings; can be participant or non-participant.
- Experimental Method: Investigates variable effects by manipulating one variable while controlling others.
- Case Study Method: Focuses in-depth on a single individual’s experiences across various life contexts.
Characteristics of Scientific Method
- Objective, testable, self-correcting, and replicable.
- Offers various approaches to understand behavior: Biological, Psychoanalytic, Behaviouristic, Humanistic, and Cognitive.
Key Terms
- Reliability: Consistency of a test in generating dependable scores.
- Validity: The extent to which a test measures what it claims.
- Independent Variable: Controlled variable manipulated by the experimenter.
- Dependent Variable: Outcome variable affected by changes in the independent variable.
Summary of Key Approaches
- Biological, cognitive, humanistic, psychoanalytic, and behaviouristic approaches help explain and understand mental processes and human behavior.
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Description
This quiz explores various methodological approaches in psychology, focusing on the biological and psychoanalytic approaches to understanding human behavior. Test your knowledge on how these theories interpret mental processes and behaviors through scientific procedures. Ideal for psychology students wanting to deepen their understanding of these foundational concepts.
