General PsychologyInstructor: Dan Benkendorf

What is Psychology? The science of behavior and mental processes Psychology answers questions like…

What is the relationship between structures and chemicals in the brain and behavior?

Why do people’s personalities differ? What are the origins of my personality?

Why do people conform to social norms? How do people learn new habits, and why are they so

hard to break? What are the causes of mental illness? What traits are characteristic of good leaders? Why do people hold stereotypes about other people?

Specialty Areas in Psychology Biological Cognitive Experimental Developmental Social Personality Health Educational Industrial/Organizational Clinical

The Scientific Method A set of assumptions, attitudes, and procedures

that guide researchers in creating questions to investigate, in generating evidence, and in drawing conclusions.

4 Basic Goals of Psychology1. Describe

2. Explain

3. Predict

4. Control

Knowledge of the Scientific Method Helps You to be a Wiser Consumer of Information

Knowledge of Research Methods Enables Us to Make Accurate Predictions

The Steps in the Scientific Method

1. Formulate a hypothesis

2. Design the study and collect the data

3. Analyze the data and draw conclusions

4. Report the findings

Building Theories: Integrating the Findings What is a theory? What is pseudoscience?

Are claims of paranormal phenomena considered pseudoscience?

Characteristics of pseudoscientific claims: Many violate the rule of falsifiability Proponents often use anecdotes or testimonials as

evidence to support their claims There are alternative explanations (other factors that

account for causes or explain the claims) They typically apply scientific principles in ways that are

not substantiated by empirical evidence and are actually contradicted by scientific explanation

Descriptive Research Methods The descriptive research methods are

strategies for observing and describing behavior. Naturalistic observation Case studies Surveys Correlational studies

Correlational Studies Examines how strongly two variables are

related to, or associated with, each other Can be used to analyze the data gathered

by any type of descriptive research method Correlation coefficient

Positive correlation Negative correlation

Correlations

Far left - strong positive correlation; Near left - weak positive correlation

Far right - strong negative correlation; Near right - weak negative correlation

The Experimental Method The experimental method is a research

method used to demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between changes in one variable and the effect that is produced on another variable. Independent variable Dependent variable

Variations in Experimental Design Placebo control group

Can help researchers check for expectancy effects, which are changes that may occur because subjects expect changes to occur—sometimes referred to as placebo effects.

Double-blind study – Purpose is to guard against the possibility that the

researcher will inadvertently display demand characteristics—subtle cues or signals that communicate what is expected of certain subjects

Single-blind study

Limitations of Experiments Artificial conditions Ethical limitations

Ethics in Psychological Research The American Psychological Association (APA)

has developed a strict code of ethics for conducting research with both human and animal subjects, the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.

Psychologists must: Respect the dignity and welfare of participants Not expose research participants to harmful or dangerous

conditions Obtain approval from the ethics panel at the institution

where the study is to be conducted

Five Key Provisions of the APA Ethical Guidelines

1. Informed consent and voluntary participation

2. Students as research participants

3. The use of deception

4. Confidentiality of records

5. Information about the study and debriefing

Questions About the Use of Animals in Psychological Research Research using animal subjects

must have an acceptable scientific purpose.

There must be a reasonable expectation that the research will Increase knowledge about behavior Increase understanding of the species

under study Produce results that benefit the health or

welfare of humans or other animals

Evaluating Media Reports About Psychology Be especially skeptical of sensationalistic claims or findings Anecdotes are the essence of talk shows, not scientific

evidence Remember that the goal of “shock” radio and televisions is

ratings Look for the original source of a professional publication Consider how the research was funded Consider the methods and operational definitions used Remember the distinction between correlation and causation Skepticism is the rule, not the exception, in science