2. “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”
(Chinese Proverb)

3. The science of human behaviour
What is psychology?
The science of human behaviour

4. An Introduction to Psychology

5. Psychology is the science of the mind and behaviour
The human mind is the most complex machine on Earth.
It is the source of all thought and behaviour
The ultimate goal of Psychology is to benefit society
Research in Psychology is influential in social policies

6. Psychology in the real world
Describe
Explain
Predict
Control

7. Psychological Investigations
Psychologists are interested in explaining human behaviour and often conduct investigations to support their theories

8. Research Methods
Experimental
Non-experimental

9. Surveys/ Self report techniques
Research Methods
Non-experimental
Experimental
Case Studies
Observations
Laboratory experiments
Field experiments
Surveys/ Self report techniques
Natural experiments
Questionnaires
Interviews
Correlational analysis

10. What is an aim? A general statement of why the study is
being carried out.

11. Hypothesis A statement not a question A statement that can be tested.
It is a prediction of what the research will find.

12. Aim Hypothesis Experimental Hypothesis: All types of experiments Lab
Natural
Field
Quasi
Alternative Hypothesis
All types of non-experimental
research methods
Social surveys
Observations

13. Alternative Hypothesis
Aim
Hypothesis
Alternative Hypothesis
Experimental Hypothesis
Directional
Non-directional
Directional
Non-directional

14. Directional Hypothesis
States that there will be a difference between two conditions/ groups
States the kind of differences or relationship between two conditions or groups of participants
States which condition will do better or worse

15. Non-directional Hypothesis
States that there will be a difference between two conditions/ groups
It does not state what the difference will be.
It does not states which condition will do better or worse

16. Variables
Variables are anything that can change or vary, be measured or controlled.
Psychologists are interested in the relationship between variables

17. Examples of Variables Age Class Gender Ethnicity IQ scores
Reading scores
Arithmetic scores

18. CONTROL Variables Independent variables
(IV) are the variables whose cause
the change in dependant variables
Dependant variables (DV)
is dependant on the changes brought by
the independent variable
CONTROL

19. Variables Independent variables (IV) are the variables whose cause
the change in dependant variables
Dependant variables (DV)
is dependant on the changes brought by
the independent variable
Extraneous/ confounding variables:
These are the variables that the researcher has no control over & could ultimately effect the outcome of the experiment.

20. Psychological Investigations
How many humans are in the world? Can psychologist study the behaviour of all these people? Explain your answer

21. Participants Target population?
All the people who share characteristics which the researcher wishes to draw conclusions from

22. What is the problem with target populations?
Too large to be investigated
A sample of the target population is to be investigated instead

23. Samples
Identify one problem with samples
Unrepresentative =

24. If the sample used in an investigation is unrepresentative of the target population then it is likely that we can not generalise the findings of that investigation to other people. The investigation will have low population validity

25. Consent must be obtained from all participants