Chapter 1

Discovering Psychology &

Research Methods

Psychology: Focus on Behavior

What is psychology? – Greek: Psyche + Logos– Modern definition:

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

– Overt– Covert

Psychology: Seeking Empirical Psychology: Seeking Empirical

EvidenceEvidence ““Commonsense” Commonsense”

beliefs about beliefs about behavior are often behavior are often wrongwrong

Psychologists prefer Psychologists prefer scientific scientific observationobservation– Based on Based on

empirical empirical evidenceevidence

– Systematically Systematically gatheredgathered

– IntersubjectiveIntersubjective

What do Psychologists What do Psychologists Seek to do?Seek to do?

DescribeDescribe

UnderstandUnderstand

InfluenceInfluence

PredictPredict

PseudopsychologiesPseudopsychologies

What is a pseudopsychology?What is a pseudopsychology?– PseudoPseudo means “false.” means “false.” – Any unfounded “system”

resembling psychology – NOT based on scientific testing

PseudopsychologiesPseudopsychologiesWhat kind of

pseudopsychologies exist?

– PhrenologyPhrenology

– PalmistryPalmistry

– GraphologyGraphology

– AstrologyAstrology

Pseudopsychologies

Why are pseudopsychologies so popular?

– Uncritical acceptance

– Fallacy of Positive Instances

– Barnum Effect

Scientific Research: The Scientific Method

Six Basic Elements1. Observing2. Defining a problem3. Proposing a hypothesis4. Gathering

Evidence/Testing the Hypothesis

5. Publish the Results6. Build a Theory

The Psychology Experiment:The Psychology Experiment:Variables & GroupsVariables & Groups

What are variables?– Variable

•Any condition that can change •Anything that might affect an experiment’s outcome

•Three types– Independent– Dependent– Extraneous

The Psychology Experiment:Variables & Groups

What groups are needed?– Experimental Group:

•The group of subjects or participants whose behavior is under investigation

•Receive independent variable

– Control Group: •Used as a comparison group•Do not receive independent variable

The Psychology Experiment:Variables & Groups

Experiments allow cause and effect relationships to be observed

Can be influenced by:– Research Participant Bias – Placebo effect– Researcher Bias– Variations in experimental

designs are needed to offset these effects.

Nonexperimental Research Methods:

Naturalistic Observation

What is naturalistic observation?– Active observation of subjects in

natural settings – Observation records provide:

• Detailed summary of observations• Descriptions of behavior

Nonexperimental Research Methods: Nonexperimental Research Methods: The Survey Method The Survey Method

What is a survey?What is a survey? – Polling technique to answer Polling technique to answer

psychological questionspsychological questions– For data to be valid, need a sample of For data to be valid, need a sample of

the larger populationthe larger population• Needs to be representative• Random Assignment

Psychology in action: Psychology in the Media:

Separating Fact from Fiction

1. Be skeptical2. Consider the source of information3. Beware of oversimplifications, especially those motivated

by monetary reasons4. “For example” is not proof5. Ask yourself, “Was there a control group?”6. Remember that correlation is not causation7. Be sure to distinguish between observation and inference