• Psychology involves the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
• Psychology scientifically evaluates common beliefs and misconceptions about behaviours and mental processes.

Psychology Focus

• Critical thinking
• Studies human behaviour
• Studies mental processes

Scientific Data in Psychology

• Measurable
• Quantifiable
• Observable
• Objective

Pseudopsychologies

• Examples include psychics and mediums.
• Defined as nonscientific.

Origins of Psychology (Continued)

Evolutionary Perspective:

• Natural selection
• Adaptation
• Evolution

Sociocultural Perspective:

• Social interaction
• Cultural determinants

Scientific Method

• Approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behaviour and other phenomena of interest

Theory

• Broad Explanations and Predictions

Hypothesis:

• A prediction, stemming from a theory
• Testable terms

Operational Definition

• Clear and specific terms of the procedures and operations used

The Scientific Method Cycle

• Begins with a literature review, where scientists read major professional, scientific journals on their subject of interest
• A testable hypothesis is formed, making a specific prediction about the relationship between variables.
• A research design is chosen to test the hypothesis and collect data, using methods like naturalistic observation, case studies, surveys, or experiments.
• Statistical analysis is performed on the raw data to determine whether the findings support the hypothesis, organizing, summarizing, and interpreting numerical data
• The scientist writes up the study and its results and submits it to a peer-reviewed scientific journal
• After one or more studies on a topic, researchers generally advance a theory to explain their results, leading to new hypotheses and methods of inquiry

Variables

• Behaviours, events, or other characteristics that can change or vary in some way.

Research Methods

• Four key research methods include:
  • Experimental (Quantitative)
  • Descriptive (Qualitative)
  • Correlational (Can be both)
  • Biological

Experimental Research

• (Continued)
• It is a carefully controlled scientific procedure that manipulates variables to determine cause and effect.

Key Features of an Experiment

• The effect of I on y
• Involves manipulating an independent variable and measuring a dependent variable.

Experimental Group

• Receives treatment.
• Dependent =DV
• versus control group (receives no treatment)

Potential Researcher Problems

• (Continued)
• Experimenter bias influences research results in the expected direction.
• Ethnocentrism includes believing one's culture is typical of all cultures.

Potential Participant Problems

• (Continued)
• Sample bias: research participants are unrepresentative of the larger population.
• Participant bias: research participants are influenced by the researcher or experimental conditions.

Descriptive Research

• Observes and records behaviour without producing causal explanations.
• Three types of descriptive research:
  • Naturalistic Observation provides observation and recording of behaviour in the natural state or habitat
  • Survey is an assessment of a sample or population
  • Case Study is an in-depth study of a single participant or group.
    • Qualitative.

    • of participants

    • N=1

Correlational Research

• Studies observe or measure (without directly manipulating) two or more variables to find relationships between them.
• Correlation coefficient ranges from +1.0 to -1.0.
• Correlation doesn't not show causation.

Positive Correlation

• Two variables move (or vary) in the same direction, either up or down

Negative Correlation

• Two variables move (or vary) in the opposite direction, either up or down.

Zero Correlation

• No relationship between two variables; when one variable increases, the other can increase, decrease, or stay the same.

Biological Research

• Scientific studies of the brain and other parts of the nervous system

The Science of Psychology: Ethical Guidelines

• Ethical Guidelines for Human Research Participants:
  • Informed consent
  • Voluntary participation
  • Restricted use of deception
  • Debriefing
  • Confidentiality
  • Alternative activities

Psychology scientifically studies behaviour and mental processes, evaluating common beliefs. It uses the scientific method to acquire knowledge, forming broad theories and testable hypotheses, based on measurable and objective data.