The Science of Psychology

Unit 1

Lesson 4

Objectives

Students will define psychology. Students will identify the goals of

psychology. Students will explain why psychology

is considered a science. Students will analyze the scientific

method.

Warm Up

Which school of psych is the best descriptor of human behavior? Why?

Review

Psychoanalysis? Freud Unconscious

Behavioral? Watson Consequences & Connections, Observations

Cognitive? Piaget Input – Process - Output

Humanistic? Maslow & Rogers Hierarchy of Needs, Free Will

Neurobiological? Genes, hormones, chemicals Medication

Sociocultural? Influences of group & society Cultural expectations

Evolutionary? Survival of fittest – adaptable traits

Eclectic – draw from multiple perspectives

Biopsychosocial- Biological elements Psychological

elements Social elements

Review

Definition of psychology? Scientific Study Behavior Mental

Processes

Psyche – soul Logos – study

Goals? Describe Explain Predict Control

Making Research Scientific

All research must be Replicable Falsifiable Parsimonious

Apply Scientific Method Identify specific problem

or question Form a hypothesis Conduct a study

(research) Analyze data Construct theory Retest

Ethical Considerations

With humans

APA Guidelines• IRB • Informed consent• Safety• Confidentiality• Debriefing

When is deception ethical?

Ethical Considerations

With animals

APA & Federal Guidelines• Clear benefit• Humane conditions• Least invasive

procedures

Descriptive Research: observe & Record

Case Study – in-depth info about one subject

Observation – naturalistic/directed (lab)

Survey – questionnaires & interviews

Test – standardized, reliable, valid

Correlational Research

Statistical relationship between 2 variables

Positive Correlation- When 2 variables increase or decrease together

Negative Correlation- When 1 variable increases as the other decreases

Correlational Coefficient – # between +1.0 and -1.0. Zero = no relation.

Correlation is NOT causation!

Ex: Scary movie & nightmares

Experimental Research

Experimental MethodSeeks to establish a cause and effect

relationship.

Handout…

Experimental Research

Identify hypothesis “If A, the IV is presented or changed, then B, the DV will occur or change.”

Identify Population, Randomly Select Sample, Randomly Assign to Group

Manipulate the IV – Placebo

Compare the results – Measure the DV

Experimental Method Vocab

Subject Expectancy- subject’s beliefs can influence his/her perception/behavior

Blinds- subjects are unaware of the treatment Double-Blind Study- neither the subjects nor

the experimenters know who has received the treatment

Activity 1 – Apply Experimental Method

A psychologist studying memory wants to test the hypothesis that an herbal supplement aids memory. The research involves having 80 people complete a memory test. Half of these individuals first consumed the herbal supplement; the other half consumed a placebo pill.

Independent Variable? Herbal supplement

Dependent Variable? Memory Retention

Control Group? Took placebo

Experimental Group? Took herbal

supplement

Activity 1 – Apply Experimental Method

An educational psychologist wants to explore whether a new math program, which uses textbooks with special colored pictures, will help high school students in learning geometry. Half of the students are randomly assigned to traditional textbooks, while the other half are assigned to the special textbooks. Scores on a standardized geometry test are measured at the end of the semester.

Independent Variable? New math book

Dependent Variable? Performance on

geometry test Control Group?

Traditional book Experimental Group?

New textbook

Activity 2

In your groups, select two of the situations and decide which method of research would be best used to achieve the goal/objective of the situation. Explain.

Also, decide which of the methods would be the least effective for each of your situations. Explain

Methods of Research You are interested in the honesty of people in America, especially with regards to stealing or

taking objects which aren’t theirs. How could you determine how honest people are, including what % of the population can be trusted at any given time?

You’re interested in finding out what effects the moderate use (3-5 x’s per week) of marijuana has on high school students, including effects on academic performance, social relationships, motivation and accomplishments.

You wish to ascertain the effects of high Vitamin C on older (65+) peoples’ health.

You are ready to develop a romantic relationship with someone and you want to find the best person to meet your needs. How would you go about this?

You think your partner is cheating on you and you want to find out if this is true and, if so, with whom.

You want to find out who the smartest person is in the senior class.

You’ve been hired to determine the effects of caffeine on the mental alertness of truck drivers for a large cross-country shipping firm.

Closure

Do you think it is ethical to use animals in psychological research? Why or why not?