General Psychology PSY111What is the purpose of education?Critical ThinkingAffective Components of Critical ThinkingCognitive Components of Critical ThinkingBehavioral ComponentsPsychologyPsychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processesGoals of PsychologyCareers in PsychologyPsychological TheoryPerspectivesSlide 13Research in PsychologyThe Scientific MethodEthical IssuesPsychological ResearchSlide 18VariablesSlide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Problems to researchSlide 26CorrelationSlide 28The Correlational MethodPositive CorrelationNegative CorrelationNo CorrelationDiscussionSlide 34General Psychology General Psychology PSY111PSY111Fall Semester, 2010Fall Semester, 2010Jim Wilwerding, M.Div., MA, Jim Wilwerding, M.Div., MA, LMHC,CADC, NCCLMHC,CADC, NCCWhat is the purpose of education?What is the purpose of education?•Should education teach people–WHAT to think?–HOW to think?Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking•The process of objectively evaluating, comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information.•Involves components of:–Affective (emotional)–Cognitive (thought)–Behavioral (actions)Affective Components of Critical Affective Components of Critical ThinkingThinking•Value truth above self-interest•Accept change•Empathize•Welcome divergent views•Tolerate ambiguity•Recognize personal biasesCognitive Components of Critical Cognitive Components of Critical ThinkingThinking•Think independently•Define problems accurately•Analyze data for value and content•Employ a variety of thinking processes•Synthesize•Resist overgeneralization•Employ metacognition (think about thinking)Behavioral ComponentsBehavioral Components•Delay judgment until data is available•Employ precise terms•Gather data•Distinguish fact from opinion•Encourage critical dialogue•Listen actively•Modify judgments in light of new information•Apply knowledge to new situationsPsychologyPsychology•From two Greek words:–Psyche meaning “mind”–Logos meaning “word”•Employs Scientific Method•Requires Critical thinking skillsPsychology is the Psychology is the scientific study of scientific study of behavior and mental behavior and mental processesprocessesGoals of PsychologyGoals of Psychology•Describe•Explain•Predict•ChangeCareers in PsychologyCareers in Psychology•Biopsychology/Neuroscience•Clinical•Cognitive•Counseling •Developmental•Educational/school•Experimental•Gender and/or cultural•Industrial/ organizational•SocialPsychological TheoryPsychological Theory•What is your belief about human nature?•What are your assumptions about unconscious/conscious, human development, learning and socialization?•What is your understanding about time orientation?•What is your belief about the process of change and free will?•What is your belief about the role of the helper?PerspectivesPerspectives•Psychoanalytic/psychodynamic–Freud, Jung, Adler, Horney•Behaviorism–Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, Skinner•Humanistic psychology–Rogers, Maslow•Cognitive psychology–Piaget, Ellis, Bandura, Sternberg, GardnerPerspectivesPerspectives•Neuroscience/biopsychology–Muller, Lashley, Hubel, Olds, Sperry, Pert•Evolutionary psychology–Darwin, Lorenz, Wilson, Buss•Sociocultural psychology–Berry, Greenfield, Brislin•Biopsychosocial ModelResearch in PsychologyResearch in Psychology•Basic research—explores theories, general scientific understanding (meets first three goals of psychology—describe, explain, and predict)•Applied research—addresses real-world problems (meets fourth goal—change)The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method1. Review of literature (or ask a question)2. Develop testable hypothesis3. Design study and collect data4. Analyze data—accept or reject hypothesis5. Publish, replicate, and seek review6. Build a theoryEthical IssuesEthical Issues•Human participants–Informed consent–Deception–Confidentiality/anonymity–Special issues for students•Non-human participants•Ethical issues related to psychotherapyPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research•Descriptive research•Correlational research•Biological researchPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research–Seeks to identify cause and effect–Meets the goal of explanation–High level of control over variables–High control=limited applicabilityVariablesVariables•Independent—the variable that is manipulated•Dependent—the variable that is measuredPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research•Descriptive research–Collection of data without manipulation–Low level of artificiality–No control of variables=lower explanation of whyPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research•Descriptive Research–Naturalistic Observation—measure and record behavior of participants–Surveys—used to determine opinions, attitudes, feelings or behaviors related to a specific issue–Case studies—intensive study of a particular case, patient or situationPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research•Descriptive research•Correlational research–Identifies relationships between variables–Statistical analysis–No cause and effect only relationshipsPsychological ResearchPsychological Research•Experimental research•Descriptive research•Correlational research•Biological research–Studies brain and nervous system–Identifies cause, description and prediction–Shares advantages/disadvantages of other three types–Several methods of study (see text pp. 37-38)VariablesVariablesA psychology student decided to design a study to determine the correlation between the number of hours a student studied and final exam score. 1. Identify the independent and dependent variables in this study2. Propose a simple design for this studyProblems to researchProblems to research•Experimenter bias–Safeguarded by using blind or double blind studies•Ethnocentrism–A particular type of experimenter bias in which one assumes (remember) that what holds for one’s own culture is also true for other culturesProblems to researchProblems to research•Sample bias—using a sample that is not representative of the general population–Safeguarded by use of random or representative sampling or random assignment•Participant bias—occurs when participants attempt to present themselves in a particular