Psychology Notes PDF

8/23/2024 Psychology Scientific study of the mind & behavior Understand & predict human behavior (purpose of psychology) Systematically evaluate information to reach conclusions based on evidence Steps in Critical Thinking Step 1: What is the claim I am being asked to accept? Step 2 What e...

8/23/2024 Psychology Scientific study of the mind & behavior Understand & predict human behavior (purpose of psychology) Systematically evaluate information to reach conclusions based on evidence Steps in Critical Thinking Step 1: What is the claim I am being asked to accept? Step 2 What evidence, if any, is provided to support the claim? A. Based on intuition, belief, opinion (next slide) B. Based on pseudo facts- “alternative facts, “fake news” C. Based on credible source objective evidence, peer-reviewed 8/26/2024 Intuition, Beliefs, & Opinion Not credible evidence Intuition: instinctive, gut feeling Belief: long-held thought Opinion: judgment about a topic Can you trust the information? Locate the source of the claim, remain skeptical of unreliable sources” Thinking Critically Step 3: Given evidence, what are the conclusions? Accept? Reject? -based on A = reject (intuition, belief, opinion) -based on B = reject (pseudo facts) -based on C = evidence biased or unbiased? Accept or Reject Bonus on Quiz What do Psychologists Investigate? Nature/nurture debate Mind/body debate Total Behavior A. Behaviors B. Emotions C. Thoughts D. Biology 8/28/2024 Experimental Psychology Wilhelm Wundt (1879) -First psychology laboratory -Reaction time / introspection measures conscious experience. Theoretical Perspectives or Ways of Thinking (page 15 table 1.1) Structuralism Titchener Student of Wundt Conscious experience can be broken down into parts (introspection) Unique to each person's perception (disadvantage) Had first female graduate student; Margaret Washburn -first granted PhD in 1894 from Cornell University -second female president of APA in 1921 Functionalism James Purpose of the conscious mind Influenced by Darwin and natural selection Admitted Mary Calkins to study in his graduate seminar at Harvard 1890 No PhD was granted, but went on to be first female president of APA 1905 8/30/2024 Psychoanalytic Freud Unconscious mind influence on behaviors Troubled childhood Psychological treatment to receive unconscious conflict Daughter Anna also interested in the field Behaviorism Stimuli & Response (1913) Watson All behavior learned through environmental factors Must be observable Environmental stimuli (behavioral triggers) Dominated into the early 1960s. Humanistic Rogers, Seligman, Manslow 1950s People have choices Positive view of people Personal growth-full potential Positive Psychology 9/4/2024 Subfields of Psychology (Table 1.2 pg. 20) 1. Evolutionary: adaptation 2. Biological: CNS/neurological  3. Cognitive: mental functions 4. Developmental: lifespan 5. Health 6. Personality: enduring characteristics 7. Social: effect of others on behaviors 8. Cultural: societal rules 9. Clinical: study, assess & treat 10. Educational 11. Industrial-Organizational (I/O) workplace training/job placement 12. Community psychology 13. Positive Psychology 14. Sleep Research (EEGs) Where do psychologists work? Independent practice Medical school Academic Government Schools / university Business / nonprofit hospitals 9/6/2024 5 Steps in Cycle of Scientific Method Empiricism: observing the world & measuring it, not influenced by personal experience Scientific Method: follow step objective, reproducible ( replication ) 1. Theory: explanation of behavior 2. Hypothesis: specific, testable prediction 3. Test with a research method: objective evidence: not influenced by feelings 4. Analyze date 5. Share results & replicate Hawthorne Effect Change in behavior due to being observed = reactivity Types of Research Methods Descriptive Methods, systematic & objective description of what is occurring A Observation studies (Jane Goodall; chimpanzees) Advantage: valuable in early stages of research with or without intervention. Disadvantage: error in observation due to bias, reactivity change in behavior as a result of being observed. Descriptive Methods (continued) B. Self reports (attitudes) Advantage: Lots of information quickly cost efficient, face to face interview can ask better questions Disadvantage: biases in answers (self-report bias) lack of recall C. Case Studies: intensive examination of one person or organization or a few Advantage: Provide a lot of date Disadvantage: subjective; generalization challenges Correlational Methods Relationships Naturally occurring relationships between two factor without altering them Collect data through observation & self-reports Correlation is not causality Advantage: naturally occurring relationship, real-world,prediction Disadvantage: no causal relationship, third variable, directionality problem Identify the Type of Correlation Increase in absence, lower grade Study more, higher grades Watching violence on TV, increase in violent behavior in children Increase in snowfall, fewer people driving Eat more junk food, increase in weight Smoke more cigarettes, decrease in years of life Experimental Method Manipulates independent variable (IV) measure effects on dependent variable (DV), to test hypothesis Manipulate IV (in control) Measures DV (depends on IV) Advantage: control over IV, avoid directionality problem Disadvantage: confound can affect D.V artificial setting 9/9/2024 Operational definitions of variables precise way variable is defined, qualify (description), quantify (measure) Control: comparison group does not receive experimental treatment Experimental: receive manipulation of IV (or treatment) Between group: different people, different treatment Within group: same people all treatments Control necessary to determine causality Experimental Method Population: group you want to know about Random sample: group of people selected from population: makes generalization possible. Random assignment: assigned to control experimental group: want groups to be similar; drawing a number from a hat Convenience sampling: people readily available for study Equal chance everyone has the opportunity to participate You want to compare standard paper towel with new super absorbent to see which holds the most liquid. Such to determine whether the number of hours a student sleeps will affect test scores. Study to determine weather caffeine affects appetite Ethical Guidelines Institutional Review Boards (RBs) consists of administrations, legal advisers , scholars, members of the community Ensures that proposed research is ethical. 1. Privacy: its ethical to observe people in public not ethical to observe without people’s knowledge 2. Conditionally: Information must be kept secret, do not discuss response on release persons name. 3. Informed consent: participants must be told about a research study and allowed to choose if they would like to participate 4. Protection from harm: no unreasonable pain or discomfort new benefit ratio