Transcript Introduction to Psychology

Myers’ EXPLORING
PSYCHOLOGY
(4th Ed)
Chapter 1
Introduction: Thinking
Critically with Psychology
James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers
What is Psychology?
Psychology
the science of behavior and mental
processes
Nature-Nurture Issue
the long-standing controversy over
the relative contribution of genes and
experience to the development of
psychological traits and behaviors
What is Psychology?
Basic Research
pure science that aims to increase the
scientific knowledge base
Applied Research
scientific study that aims to solve
practical problems
What is Psychology?
Clinical Psychology
a branch of psychology that studies,
assesses, and treats people with
psychological disorders
Psychiatry
a branch of medicine dealing with
psychological disorders
practiced by physicians who provide
medical (drug) treatment as well as
psychological therapy
Why do Psychology?
Critical Thinking
thinking that does not blindly
accept arguments and conclusions
examines assumptions
discerns hidden values
evaluates evidence
Why do Psychology?
Hindsight Bias
tendency to believe, after learning an
outcome, that one would have foreseen
it
the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon
Overconfidence
we tend to think we know more than
we do
The Scientific Method
Theory
an explanation using an integrated set of
principles that organizes and predicts
observations
Hypothesis
a testable prediction
often implied by a theory
The Scientific Method
generate or refine
research and
observations
lead to
hypothesis
Research Strategies
Replication
repeating the essence of a research study to
see whether the basic finding generalizes to
other subjects and circumstances
usually with different subjects in different
situations
Case Study
an observation technique in which one person
is studied in depth in the hope of revealing
universal principles
Research Strategies
Survey
technique for ascertaining the self-reported
attitudes or behaviors of people
usually by questioning a representative,
random sample of them
False Consensus Effect
tendency to overestimate the extent to which
others share our beliefs and behaviors
Research Strategies
Population
all the cases in a group, from which samples
may be drawn
Random Sample
a sample that fairly represents a population
because each member has an equal chance of
inclusion
Research Strategies
Naturalistic
Observation
observing and
recording behavior in
naturally occurring
situations without
trying to manipulate
and control the
situation
Research Strategies
Correlation
a statistical measure that indicates the
extent to which two factors vary together
and thus how well either factor predicts
the other
Illusory Correlation
the perception of a relationship where
none exists
Illusory Correlation
Conceive
Adopt
Do not
adopt
Do not conceive
confirming
evidence
disconfirming
evidence
disconfirming
evidence
confirming
evidence
Do you believe
that previously
infertile couples
become more
likely to
conceive a child
after adopting a
baby?
Random Sequences
Your chances of
being dealt
either of these
hands is
precisely the
same: 1 in
2,598,960.
Correlation and
Causation
Three possible cause-effect relations
Low
Self-esteem
Depression
Low
Self-esteem
Depression
Low
Self-esteem
Depression
Distressing events or
biological predisposition
Research Strategies
Experiment
a research method in which the
investigator manipulates one or more
factors (independent variables) to observe
their effect on some behavior or mental
process (the dependent variable) while
controlling other relevant factors by
random assignment of subjects
Research Strategies
Experimental Condition
the condition of an experiment that exposes
subjects to the treatment, that is, to one
version of the independent variable
Control Condition
the condition of an experiment that contrasts
with the experimental treatment
serves as a comparison for evaluating the
effect of the treatment
Perceptions of
Violence
Perception of illegal play when players seen to wear
black
8
3
2
1
White Jerseys
Black Jerseys
0
Color Visible
Color Not Visible
Research Strategies
Random Assignment
assigning subjects to experimental
and control conditions by chance
minimizes pre-existing differences
between those assigned to the
different groups
Research Strategies
Independent Variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated
the variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent Variable
the experimental factor that may change in
response to manipulations of the independent
variable
in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental
process
Research Strategies
The Design of the Second Frank and Gilovich Experiment
Manipulation
of Independent
Variable
Condition
Manipulation
of Independent
Variable
Measurement
Of Dependent
Variable
Experimental
Wear black jerseys
Aggressiveness
(game choice)
Control
Not wear black
jerseys(wear white)
Aggressiveness
(game choice)
Research Strategies
Operational Definition
a statement of the procedures (operations)
used to define research variables
Placebo
an inert substance or condition that may be
administered instead of a presumed active
agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the
effects believed to characterize the active agent
Research Strategies
Subliminal tape content
Self-esteem
Tape label
Self-esteem
Memory
Memory
Design of the
subliminal
tapes
experiment
Research Strategies
Double-blind Procedure
an experimental procedure in which both the
subject and the research staff are ignorant
(blind) about whether the subject has received
the treatment or a placebo
commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
Culture
enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and
traditions shared by a large group of people
transmitted from one generation to the next
Duck or Rabbit?
Our preconceptions can bias our observations and
interpretations
Studying Psychology
SQ3R
a study method incorporating five
steps:
Survey
Question
Read
Rehearse
Review