What Is Psychology? 

• A science of mind
  
  • Psychology vs. Psychobable 
• A science of behavior
  
  • Is it simply common sense?

Five Major Theoretical Perspectives:

• Biological
• Learning
• Cognitive
• Psychodynamic
• Sociocultural

We are not all clinicians!

• Developmental
• Experimental
• Educational
• Industrial Organizational
• Pscyhometric

How we break down the disciplines here:

• Developmental
• Biopsychology
• Clinical
• Cognition and Perception
• Organizational
• Personality
• Social

Research

•  Precision
  
  • Theory
  • Hypotheses
  • Operational definitions
    
• Skepticism
• Reliance on empirical evidence
• Predictions must be "testable"
• Openness

Descriptive Studies

•  Case Studies
  
  • Example: Genie
• Observational Studies
  
  • Examples: Jane Goodall, Diane Fossey

Tests and Surveys

•  Important Terms
  
  • Standardized
  • Norms
  • Reliability
  • Validity
  • Representative samples
  • Bias

Correlations

• Correlations does not equal causation
• Important Terms:
  
  • Positive correlation
  • Negative Correlation
  • Correlation coefficient

Experiments

•  Important Terms
  
  • Independent variable
  • Dependent Variable

Issues in Research

• Is the result important?
• Ethics of research
  
  • Human work
    • Examples: Milgrim, XYY study
  • Animal work
    • Examples: Harlow, cat research

[Home] [Genes Evol.Brain] [Body Rythm Mental states] [Sensation and Perception]

[Learning Theory] [Thinking and Intelligence] [Memory] [Exam-Review]

[Exam - Practice Questions] [Motivation] [Personality] [Development over the Lifespan]

[Social Interaction] [Cultural Context] [Health and Well Being] [Psychological Disorders]

[Approaches to Treatment] [Exam 2 -Review] [Exam 2 - Practice Questions]