PSY 111 1st Edition Exam 1 Study Guide REVIEW STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM 1 Chapter One The Science of Psychology What is psychology o the scientific study oh human behavior and mental processes collect and analyzed data to make objective claims o psychologists study humans and behavior Psychology versus common sense o psych reveals unexpected results data based on systematic studies sometimes counterintuitive results may differ but theses differences can be explained through the data o common sense obvious conclusion based on experience intuitive may differ from person to person reason for differences are often not clear Thinking like a psychologist don t use biases or stereotypes don t jump the gun examine evidence evaluate data analyze results rely on critical thinking meaning think reflectively and productively then evaluate the evidence engage with other ideas The roots of psychology philosophy medicine physiology academia Founders of psychology Wundt and James Wundt was structuralism used introspection studied in Germany and James was functionalism seeks to answer what purpose do our particular behaviors serve by stating the environment determined your behavior the method used is objective observation studied in the USA THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRUCTURALISM AND FUNCTIONALISM IS THAT IS THE STUDY PARTS AND ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP THE MIND WHEREAS FUNCTIONALISM IS THE PROCESSES OF THE MIND Contemporary approaches Freud Biological biological method focuses on the body especially the brain and nervous system involves neuroscience study of the structure function development genetics and biochemistry of the nervous system Thoughts and emotions have a physical basis In the brain Cognitive Psychology biological and experience methods emphasis on mental process involved in knowing how we direct our attention how we perceive how we remember and how we think and solve problems view the mind as an active and aware problem solving system individual mental processes are in control of behavior through memories perception images and thinking Evolutionary biological method adaption reproduction survival of the fittest as basis for explaining human behavior influences decision making level of aggressiveness fears and mating problems Humanistic experience method emphasis on the capacity for positive growth and the freedom to choose any destiny pl have the ability to control their lives and avoid being manipulated by the environment altruism free will self understanding Behavioral behavioral emphasizes the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants relies on experimental research interaction w environment john b Watson and B F Skinner skinner emphasizes that what we do is the ultimate testes of who we are Rewards and punishments determine our behavior We do things not because of inborn motivation to be competent people but rather because of the environmental conditions we have experienced and continue to experience Psychodynamic both but mainly experience emphasis on unconscious thoughts Sigmund Freud emphasis on the conflict between biological instincts and society demands and early family experiences unlearned behavior instinct sexual and aggressive impulses influence the way people think feel and behave Sigmund freud says that early relatinships with parents are the chief forces that shap ane individuals personality psychoanalysis focuses on clinical applications sociocultural examines the ways in which the social and cultural environments influence behavior a full understanding of a person s behavior requires knowing about the cultural context in which the behaviors occur Careers in psychology Chapter Two Research in Psychology What is he scientific method standardized way of doing research Why is research important better understanding of mind and behavior categorization of normal and abnormal mind and behavior clarity about factors and variables that influence the human mind and behavior allows to improve human conditions Different research methods in psychology o Descriptive what research seeks to understand what already exist our particular population describes what already exists non invasive gives clear answers about the parameter of the problem allows us to use this info to design causal research Survey research descriptive researchers use o interview or questionnaires to gather info can provide accurate and highly descriptive inform can track changes over time they are quick and easy to administer non invasive a lot of bias is involved from participants and experimenters harder to control your population need a large sample size Case study research unlike survey research and individual or small population is studied in great depth sometimes over an extended period of time uses a combination of methods naturalistic observation testing interviews Extensive in depth info about the subject A combination of methods reduce biases Not a very big sample so it leads to low applicability Takes a lot of time Can be invasive o Experimental research the only methodology that allows you to examine cause and effect only research method to identify cause effect relationships you start off with a why question designed to test a hypothesis two kinds of hypotheses experimental the treatment or manipulation causes an effect null the treatment or manipulation does not cause and effect we use the null hypothesis to show that the its chances of being true are so low that you are confident your treatment work must remain skeptical Variables in experiments independent variable factor of condition that is manipulated by the experiment aka the treatment Dependent variable factor condition that is measure at the end of the experiment varies as a result of the independent confounding variables factors conditions other than independent variable that could cause an effect on the dependent variable three kinds of confounding to control selection bias controlled by blind research placebo effect controlled by blind research design experimenter bias controlled by double blind research design o correlational research relationship not causal designed to study relationships used to establish the degree of a relationship negative positive and zero correlations tells you the direction of the relationship 0 correlation is the lowest correlation you can have Correlation does not imply causation It is an indicator of relationship but not predictive correlation coefficient a