Thinking Like a Psychologist Part I

What is Psychology? Comprehensive discipline in which practitioners focus on understanding human behavior its underlying emotional, mental, and physiological processes. According to the APA: –Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged. In every conceivable setting from scientific research centers to mental health care services, "the understanding of behavior" is the enterprise of psychologists. (About APA, ¶ 5)

Misunderstandings Regarding Psychology Psychologists are mind-readers Psychologists analyze and diagnose every person they meet The differences between psychologists and psychiatrists Bachelors degrees in psychology are useless One does not have to understand statistics and research methods to be a psychologist Dr. Phil is a good example of a psychologist. What have you heard?

Psychology and the Lay Person How the general public is exposed to psych or forms opinions about psych: –Self-help books –Television/Radio talk-shows –Mass Media (News, TV, and Movies) “Experts” in interviews Character portrayals –Maybe an AP Psychology or PSYC 101 class –Maybe through personal experience (counseling or mediation)

Psychology is a Science Grounded in Empiricism: –Empiricism = Observation, Measurement, and Analysis –William Wundt: 1 st Psychology laboratory Introspection Researchers in psychology use the scientific method.

Psychology is a Science Engage in the replication of findings. –Methods section of a manuscript Participants, Procedures, Instruments/Tests, Variables measured, etc. Engage in peer review and evaluation. –Most reputable journals peer review articles –Reviewers are professionals –There are standards –Must not withhold research data for review ( see APA Code, 8.14) –Falsifiability

Research Methods Non- Experimental Naturalistic Observation Relational Research Field Study Survey Research

Naturalistic Observation Addresses most basic scientific question: “What is out there?” Requires operational definition of events to be observed Observer must be unobtrusive Design must be nonreactive

Field-Based Research Similar to naturalistic observation Goal is to establish natural relations among events Observer must be unobtrusive, but methods are intentionally reactive

Survey Research Appropriate to the study of private behaviors Two primary styles: –Interviews (structured/unstructured) –Questionnaires (structured/unstructured)

Relational (Correlational) Research Goal to verify systematic (usually linear) relations among events Strengths/directions of relations –generally expressed in form of correlation coefficient (r xy )

Research Methods Experimental True Experiment Quasi- Experiment

True Experiment Goal: –To establish a causal (cause-effect) relationship between events. Does exposure to violent television programming cause a increase in aggressive behavior? Requires: –Random assignment of participants to at least 2 equivalent conditions –Manipulating one condition (independent variable, or IV) –Leaving one condition unchanged (control) –Measurement of one other factor in both conditions (factor called dependent variable, or DV)

True Experiment The results of the experiment should answer: –Is one group significantly different than the other(s)? –What is the probability that the difference is not due to chance? –Did the manipulation of the IV cause a change in the DV?

Quasi-Experiment Same as the True Experiment except for the ability to randomly assign individuals to conditions. There exists pre-formed groups or there are characteristics of the individuals which can not be manipulated. Must assign groups to conditions.

A Theory Not a guess Often the result of the observation of some phenomena Provides some structure on how to predict future events or behavior Ever adapting with the presentation new information or evidence Typically does not account for every aspect of a phenomenon

Hirschi’s Social Control Theory Hirschi (1969) explains that delinquency results from a failure to establish sufficient social bonds between an individual and the society in which they live. The four bonds are: –Attachment to parents, peers, or school –Commitment to conventional lines of action –Involvement in conventional activities –Belief in a common value

Falisfiability Every good theory must allow for the opportunity to be proven wrong Exploring the contradictions to beliefs and theories allows for growth and evolution of thought Criticism is a good thing

Operational Definitions Concept  Measurable or observable event One needs to clearly define what one wants to measure. Verbal Ability Delinquency Introversion

Reliability and Validity Reliability – consistency over time –Test Retest Reliability –Split Half Reliability –Inter-rater Reliability Validity – accuracy of measurement –Face Validity –Construct Validity –Content Validity

Validity Internal Validity –Maturation –Testing –History –Mortality –Differential subject selection –Instrumentation –Statistical Regression External Validity –Population Validity –Ecological Validity Hawthorne Effect Novelty Effect Placebo Effect Experimental Bias Experimenter Personal-Attributes