Lecture 1&2 PSYCH2018

Scientific Thinking in Psychology

• Psychology relies heavily on research methods, which are foundational for critical evaluation of information.
• Research methods courses focus on the process of research rather than content.
• These methodological courses improve critical thinking skills, vital for graduate study and broader psychological understanding.

Ways of Knowing

• Authority: Learning from others, often helpful initially, but not always accurate.
• Reason/Logic: Drawing conclusions based on assumptions. Problems occur when assumptions are flawed and not verifiable.
• Empiricism/Direct Experience: Learning through observation and personal experience, often subjective and biased.

Science as a Way of Knowing

• Science assumes determinism (events have causes) and discoverability (those causes can be found).
• It minimizes bias through systematic observation.
• Science generates public, objective knowledge supported by multiple observers.
• Science uses data to form conclusions, not opinions.
• Scientific theories can be tested and potentially disproven (falsifiable).
• Scientists combine skepticism and optimism.

Science vs. Pseudoscience

• Pseudoscience resembles science, but lacks rigorous methodology and evidence.
• It relies on anecdotes, avoids testing, and simplifies complex phenomena.
• Phrenology and graphology are examples of pseudoscience.
• Pseudoscience oversimplifies intricate phenomena.

The Goals of Research in Psychology

• Describe: Identifying patterns in behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
• Predict: Establishing relationships between psychological factors to allow prediction.
• Explain: Understanding the reasons behind psychological events, including possible causes.
• Apply: Using research to improve real-world situations and problems.

Famous Psychologists

• Eleanor Gibson (visual cliff studies) and B.F. Skinner (operant conditioning).

Ethics in Psychological Research

Origins of APA Ethics Code

• The APA's ethical code has evolved, with a significant code published in 2002 (updated in 2010). This code guides research, clinical work, and teaching in psychology.

Ethical Principles

• The code includes five general principles: beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people's rights and dignity.

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

• IRBs review research proposals to ensure ethical treatment of participants.
• The level of IRB review depends on the risk to participants.
• There are exemptions, expedited reviews, and full reviews.

Ethical Considerations in Research

• Informed Consent: Participants must be informed fully before agreeing to participate in research.
• Deception: Used sometimes in research to create natural behavior (e.g., Milgram’s Obedience studies). Informed consent may not be possible or necessary in certain situations, such as some surveys, observational studies, educational research, and archival research.
• Special Populations: Children, prisoners, and others require extra precautions to avoid coercion.

Ethical Guidelines for Research with Animals

• Justifying studies in terms of cost-benefit.
• Ensuring animal welfare (e.g., expertise with the species).
• Limiting use for educational reasons.

Scientific Misconduct

• Scientific misconduct includes plagiarism, falsifying data, and more.
• Motivations for misconduct vary.

This quiz explores the essential research methods in psychology and their role in enhancing critical thinking skills. You'll learn about various ways of knowing, including authority, reason, and empiricism, and how these concepts relate to scientific inquiry. Test your understanding of the foundational principles of scientific thinking as applied to psychology.