Psychology 1: Understanding Behavior

Understanding Behavior

• Behavior encompasses any observable actions made by living organisms, including humans and animals.
• Measurable behaviors include eating, sleeping, sneezing, and playful actions.
• Biological processes, such as brain region activation and neurotransmitter levels, are also considered behaviors.

Operationalization in Psychology

• Operationalization defines how researchers measure a variable in their studies.
• A single behavior can have multiple interpretations; hence, it's crucial to specify how behaviors are measured.
• Example: "Aggression will be measured by the number of times a child hits a toy."

Psychology as a Science

• Psychology employs an empirical approach, based on the idea that knowledge is derived from sensory experience.
• John Locke emphasized gaining knowledge through observation and experience, influencing the scientific methods developed in the 17th and 18th centuries.
• An empirical method relies on observable and verifiable data, contrasting with common sense assumptions that lack evidence.
• Psychology tests the validity of common sense ideas.

Research Stages in Psychology

• Research in psychology typically begins with an idea and culminates in a hypothesis.
• Each research phase includes distinct steps:
  • Observation: Identifying behaviors and forming a testable aim.
  • Hypothesis: Creating a statement predicting research outcomes and operationalizing the variable for measurement.

Example Study Methodology

• Consider a study investigating the effect of alcohol on speech:
  • Aim: To determine how much alcohol induces slurred speech.
  • Hypothesis: Consuming three or more glasses of whisky will lead to slurring a tongue twister.

Research Method and Procedure

• The study manipulates the quantity of whisky consumed by participants (2, 3, or 4 glasses).
• After drinking, participants recite a designated tongue twister, and mistakes are counted to assess the impact of alcohol.

Drawing Conclusions

• Findings reveal that increased alcohol consumption correlates with higher rates of mistakes when reciting the tongue twister.
• Research evaluation includes questioning potential flaws in the experiment, areas for improvement, learning outcomes, and recommendations for future studies, as well as identifying the strengths of the conducted study.

This quiz explores the fundamental concept of behavior in psychology. It covers observable actions made by individuals and animals, including biological processes and responses. Test your knowledge on the various forms and examples of behavior.