1. Introduction to Psychology & Its Research Methods
CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Psychology & Its Research Methods
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2. Lecture Overview Introducing Psychology Origins of Psychology
The Science of Psychology
Research Methods
Tools for Student Success
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3. Introducing Psychology
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behavior & mental processes.
Psychology focuses on critical thinking & is scientific.
Pseudopsychologies (e.g., psychics, mediums) are nonscientific.
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4. Pause & Reflect: Psychology at Work
Psychology helps us scientifically evaluate common beliefs & misconceptions about behavior & mental processes. For example, can you identify which of the beliefs on the following slide are true or false?
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5. True or False? In general, we only use about 10% of our brain.
Most brain activity stops during sleep.
People who threaten suicide seldom follow through with it.
Similarity is the best predictor of long-term relationships.
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6. Answers to These (& Other Common Beliefs) are Found Throughout Psychology in Action (9e)
In general, we only use about 10% of our brain.
False—(See Chapter 2)
Most brain activity stops during sleep.
False—(See Chapter 5)
People who threaten suicide seldom follow through with it.
False—(See Chapter 15)
Similarity is the best predictor of long-term relationships.
True—(See Chapter 16)
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7. Introducing Psychology: Psychology’s Four Goals
Description: tells “what” occurred
Explanation: tells “why” a behavior or mental process occurred
Prediction: identifies conditions under which a future behavior or mental process is likely to occur
Change: applies psychological knowledge to prevent unwanted behavior or to bring about desired goals
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8. Introducing Psychology: Applying Psychology to Work (Sample Specialties)
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Educational & School Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Biopsychology/ Neuroscience
Clinical & Counseling Psychology
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9. Applying Psychology to Work (Sample Specialties Continued)
Forensic Psychology
Gender/Cultural Psychology
Health Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Social Psychology
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10. Careers in Psychology: Percentage of Psychology Degrees by Specialty
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11. Introducing Psychology: Ethnicities of Doctorate Recipients in Psychology
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12. Origins of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt: “father of psychology”
Structuralism: sought to identify the basic building blocks, or structures, of the mind through introspection (Titchener key leader)
Functionalism: studied how the mind functions to adapt organisms to their environment (James key leader)
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13. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Psychoanalytic/ Psychodynamic Perspective: unconscious processes & unresolved past conflicts (Freud = key founder)
Sigmund Freud ( )
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14. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Behavioral Perspective: objective, observable environmental influences on overt behavior (Watson, Pavlov, & Skinner were key figures)
B. F. Skinner ( )
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15. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Humanistic Perspective: free will, self-actualization, & a positive, growth-seeking human nature (Rogers & Maslow were key figures) + =
Carl Rogers ( )
Abraham Maslow ( )
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16. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Cognitive Perspective: thinking, perceiving, problem solving, memory, language, & information processing
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17. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Neuroscience/ Biopsychology Perspective: genetics & other biological processes in the brain & other parts of the nervous system
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18. Origins of Psychology (Continued)
Evolutionary Perspective: natural selection, adaptation, & evolution
Sociocultural Perspective: social interaction & cultural determinants
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19. Origins of Psychology: One Unifying Theme of Modern Psychology
Biopsychosocial model: combines all seven major perspectives
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20. Pause & Reflect: Critical Thinking
Why do psychologists & other scientists need multiple perspectives? (One possible answer appears on the next slide.)
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21. Do See a Vase &/0r Two Faces?
Multiple perspectives allow psychologists to better understand research & complex behavior & mental processes.
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22. The Science of Psychology
Basic Research: conducted to advance scientific knowledge
Applied Research: designed to solve practical problems
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23. Pause & Reflect: Assessment
Is this an example of basic or applied research?
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24. The Scientific Method
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25. The Science of Psychology: Ethical Guidelines
Ethical Guidelines for Human Research Participants:
Informed consent
Voluntary participation
Restricted use of deception
Debriefing
Confidentiality
Alternative activities
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26. The Science of Psychology: Ethical Guidelines (Continued)
Rights of Nonhuman Participants: Advocates believe nonhuman research offers significant scientific benefits. Opponents question these benefits & suggest nonhuman animals cannot give informed consent.
General Guidelines: Psychologists must maintain high standards for both human & nonhuman animal research.
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27. Pause & Reflect: Assessment
What are the four major goals of psychology?
The _____ perspective focuses on natural selection, adaptation, & evolution.
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28. Research Methods Four key research methods: Experimental Descriptive
Correlational
Biological
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29. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010
Art of Prediction

30. Four Key Research Methods (Continued)
1. Experimental Research: carefully controlled scientific procedure that manipulates variables to determine cause & effect
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31. Research Methods—Experimental (Continued)
Key features of an experiment:
Independent variable (factor that is manipulated) versus dependent variable (factor that is measured)
Experimental group (receives treatment) versus control group (receives no treatment)
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32. Does TV increase aggression
Does TV increase aggression? Only an experiment can determine cause & effect.
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33. Research Methods—Experimental (Continued)
Potential researcher problems:
Experimenter bias (researcher influences the research results in the expected direction)
Ethnocentrism (believing one's culture is typical of all cultures)
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34. Research Methods—Experimental (Continued)
Potential participant problems:
Sample bias: research participants are unrepresentative of the larger population
Participant bias: research participants are influenced by the researcher or experimental conditions
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35. Research Methods—Experimental (Continued)
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36. Research Methods—Descriptive
2. Descriptive Research: observes & records behavior without producing causal explanations
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37. Research Methods—Descriptive
Three types of descriptive research:
Naturalistic Observation: observation & recording of behavior in natural state or habitat
Survey: assessment of a sample or population
Case Study: in-depth study of a single participant
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38. Pause & Reflect: Psychology at Work
What is the advantage of studying psychological research methods like naturalistic observation? (One possible answer appears on the next slide.)
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39. Do You Get it? Studying Psychology Helps You “Get” the Underlying Humor of Many Cartoons
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40. Research Methods—Correlational
3. Correlational Research: observes or measures (without directly manipulating) two or more variables to find relationships between them
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41. Research Methods—Correlational
Positive Correlation: two variables move (or vary) in the same direction—either up or down
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42. Research Methods—Correlational
Negative Correlation: two variables move (or vary) in the opposite direction—either up or down
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43. Research Methods—Correlational
Zero Correlation: no relationship between two variables (when one variable increases, the other can increase, decrease, or stay the same)
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44. Research Methods—Correlational
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45. Research Methods—Correlational
Can you see why correlation can never show cause & effect?
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46. Research Methods—Biological
4. Biological Research: scientific studies of the brain & other parts of the nervous system
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47. Pause & Reflect: Assessment
Why is an experiment the only way we can determine cause & effect?
What is the difference between a positive correlation & a negative correlation?
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48. Tools for Student Success
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49. Tools for Student Success (Continued)
Four major tools:
Active Reading (SQ4R)
Time Management (setting up a realistic study, social, & work schedule)
Grade Improvement (note taking, study habits, test-taking tips)
Additional Resources (instructors, classmates, study groups, etc.)
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50. Can You Identify the Real U.S. Penny?
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51. Tools for Student Success: The Importance of Time Management
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52. Pause & Reflect: Critical Thinking
Can you see how the lack of active reading or careful studying helps explain why most people cannot easily identify the actual U.S. penny despite having seen it thousands of times?
Which of the four major “Tools for Student Success” do you plan to work on to improve your academic performance?
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53. Introduction to Psychology & Its Research Methods
End of CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Psychology & Its Research Methods
PowerPoint  Lecture Notes Presentation
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010