1. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon What Is Psychology? Psychology is the science of mental processes and behavior. ◦ What is science? ◦ What are mental processes? ◦ What is behavior?

2. WWW Ch. 1 Edited by Dr. Margaret Launius - Allyn & Bacon Copyright 20022 Mental Health Providers Psychiatrist ◦ M.D. - Physician ◦ Prescribes drugs ◦ Not trained for psychological tests Clinical/Counseling Psychologist ◦ Master’s, Ph.D., or Psy.D. ◦ Therapy, research, teaching Social worker ◦ MSW; licensed ◦ Helps families and individuals with psychotherapy ◦ Helps clients use the social service system in their communities

3. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Levels of Analysis The person The group The brain

4. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon The Scientific Method What are the components of the scientific method? ◦ Specify a problem ◦ Systematic observation  Data  Replication ◦ Form a hypothesis ◦ Test the hypothesis  Operational definition ◦ Formulate a theory ◦ Test the theory

5. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Descriptive Research Naturalistic observation ◦ Allows one to see patterns in the real world Case studies ◦ Focus on a single interesting case in detail Surveys ◦ A set of questions put to a number of participants about their beliefs, attitudes, preferences, or activities

6. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Correlational Research Studies where the relationships between two or more variables are measured but not manipulated Examples: ◦ Family income and IQ score ◦ Height and shoe size ◦ MAO levels and thrill seeking

7. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Correlation Strength and direction

8. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Designing Experiments: Independent Variable The aspect of a situation that is intentionally varied while another aspect is measured Examples: ◦ Amount of practice allowed ◦ Participants randomly assigned so that they receive a drug or placebo ◦ Visual or auditory stimuli present ◦ Temperature of room

9. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Designing Experiments: Dependent Variable The aspect of a situation that is measured while the independent variable is changed Examples: ◦ Number of words recalled ◦ Speed of response ◦ Number of cigarettes smoked ◦ Electrical activity in the brain

10. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Designing Experiments: Effects The difference in the dependent variable that is due to changes in the independent variable Examples: ◦ Drug X impairs short-term memory. ◦ Visualization improves athletic performance. ◦ Practice improves reading speed.

11. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Experiments Experimental group Control group Random assignment Strength ◦ Rigorous control, causal inferences Weakness ◦ Not all variables can be manipulated

12. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Quasi-Experiments Like experiments, but without random assignment Strength ◦ Real-world phenomena that cannot be studied in experiments Weakness ◦ Lack of control means limited causal inferences

13. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Being a Critical Consumer Reliability Validity ◦ Face validity ◦ Content validity ◦ Criterion validity ◦ Construct validity

14. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Bias and Expectation Response bias Sampling bias Experimenter expectancy effects ◦ Double-blind design

15. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Pseudopsychology Unsupported opinion pretending to be psychological science What makes a discipline a science? ◦ Is it the topic of study? ◦ Is it the method of study? Examples ◦ ESP ◦ Astrology

16. WWW Copyright © 2008 Allyn & Bacon Ethics in Research Institutional Review Board (IRB) Research with people ◦ Informed consent ◦ Avoid deception unless necessary ◦ Debriefing Research with animals ◦ Avoid mistreatment ◦ Proper housing