1. Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (4th Ed)
Chapter 1
Introduction: Thinking Critically with Psychology
James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers

2. What is Psychology? Psychology Nature-Nurture Issue
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

3. What is Psychology? Basic Research Applied Research
pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Applied Research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

4. What is Psychology? Clinical Psychology Psychiatry
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

5. Why do Psychology? Critical Thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions
examines assumptions
discerns hidden values
evaluates evidence

6. Why do Psychology? Hindsight Bias Overconfidence
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

7. The Scientific Method Theory Hypothesis
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations
Hypothesis
a testable prediction
often implied by a theory

8. The Scientific Method lead to generate or refine research and
observations
lead to
hypothesis

9. Research Strategies Replication Case Study
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

10. Research Strategies Survey False Consensus Effect
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

11. Research Strategies Population Random Sample
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

12. Research Strategies Naturalistic Observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

13. Research Strategies Correlation Illusory 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

14. Illusory Correlation
Do you believe that previously infertile couples become more likely to conceive a child after adopting a baby?
Conceive
Do not conceive
Adopt
Do not
adopt
disconfirming
evidence
confirming

15. Random Sequences
Your chances of being dealt either of these hands is precisely the same: 1 in 2,598,960.

16. Correlation and Causation
Three possible cause-effect relations
Low
Self-esteem
Depression
Distressing events or
biological predisposition

17. 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

18. Research Strategies Experimental Condition Control 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

19. Perceptions of Violence
Perception of illegal play when players seen to wear black 3 2 1 8
Color Visible
Color Not Visible
Black Jerseys
White Jerseys

20. Research Strategies Random Assignment
assigning subjects to experimental and control conditions by chance
minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups

21. Research Strategies Independent Variable Dependent 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

22. Research Strategies
The Design of the Second Frank and Gilovich Experiment
Condition
Manipulation
of Independent
Variable
Measurement
Of Dependent
Control
Experimental
Not wear black
jerseys(wear white)
Wear black jerseys
Aggressiveness
(game choice)

23. Research Strategies Operational Definition Placebo
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

24. Research Strategies Design of the subliminal tapes experiment
Subliminal tape content
Self-esteem
Memory
Tape label
Design of the subliminal tapes experiment

25. Research Strategies Double-blind Procedure Culture
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

26. Duck or Rabbit?
Our preconceptions can bias our observations and interpretations

27. Studying Psychology SQ3R a study method incorporating five steps:
Survey
Question
Read
Rehearse
Review