Chapter 1: Introduction and

Research Methods
 I. Introducing Psychology
 Psychology is  the scientific study of
behavior and mental processes.

 Studying Psychology offers practical solutions

to everyday problems

 Psychologists use the scientific method to

make observations
 I. Introducing Psychology
 Psychologists seek to observe, describe,
explain, predict, and modify behavior and
mental processes
 (4 goals – will be discussed on next slide)
 Psychologists rely on research to learn
whether certain methods will work before
they use them to help people
 I. Introducing Psychology
 4 Goals of Psychology
1. Description – describe particular behaviors
by careful observations
2. Explanation/ understanding – explain
behaviors by conducting experiments
3. Prediction / control– predict ( after mending
or amending the behavior) when a behavior
that is being studied will happen in the future
4. Change – change inappropriate behavior
 I. Introducing Psychology
 Psychologists work in many different fields
but they all focus on studying and
explaining behavior and mental processes

 Behavior is defined as any action that people

can observe or measure, such as walking,
talking, sleeping, and eating
 I. Introducing Psychology
 Fields/ disciplines of Psychology
 Educational
 Abnormal
 Health
 Positive
 Clinical:
general health, mental health, child health
 Counseling: business or education institutions
 Sport psychology: athletes
 Experimental psychology: humans, animals
 Cognitive psychology: learning
 Developmental psychology: developmental changes in
people’s lives
 II. Origins of Psychology
 There are 9 schools of study within
Psychology (each will be described)
1. Structuralism
2. Functionalism
3. Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic
4. Behavioral
5. Humanistic
 II. Origins of Psychology
1. Structuralism – focuses primarily on
investigation of thought processes
2. Functionalism – focuses on the function
of mental processes in adapting the
individual to the environment
3. Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic –
Examines psychological problems that
are presumed to be caused by conflicts.
Usually aggressive in nature
 II. Origins of Psychology
4. Behavioral – observing behavior through
scientific method
5. Humanistic – stresses free will, self
actualization and positive growth seeking
nature of humans
6. Cognitive – researches areas of thought,
perception and information processing
 II. Origins of Psychology
7. Neuroscience/Biopsychology –
explores the role of biological factors
such as genetics in humans (scientific)
8. Evolutionary – focuses on natural
selection, adaptation, and evolution of
behavior
9. Sociocultural – focuses on social
interactions, cultural determinants, and
mental processes
 Important People to Know
 Wilhelm Wundt  Considered to be the
“father of modern psychology”
 Founded first psychology lab in Germany
(1879)
 Associated with the Structuralism field of
Psychology

 Sigmund Freud  Founder of

psychoanalytical/psychodynamic
 Important People to Know
 Ivan Pavlov  Leader of the behavior
perspective
 YouTube - Classical Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov
 B.F. Skinner/John Watson
 Both associated with Behavioral psychology
 Watson believed people have 3 reactions: fear, rage,
love
 Skinner believed behavior depends on what happens
are people are exposed to a “stimulus”
 Important People
 Rogers/Maslow  Leaders of the Humanist
perspective

 William James  Published Principles of

Psychology in 1890
 James was a Harvard Professor
 Responsible for giving the first lecture on psychology
 The Science of Psychology
 Psychologists follow scientific procedures
similar to the way other scientists do
 Research and experiments help
investigate cause – and – effect
relationships
 There are two TYPES of research within
psychology  BASIC or APPLIED
 The Science of Psychology
 Basic research is conducted to study
theoretical questions without trying to
solve a specific problem (general ideas or
concepts)
 Applied research utilizes the principles
and discoveries of psychology for practical
purposes (finding solutions to real world
problems)
 Research Methods
 We know, psychology research can only
be basic or applied
 There are 4 methods of research within
psychology
1. Experimental
2. Descriptive
3. Correlational
4. Biological
 Experimental Method
 Carried out to study cause-effect relationships
 Experimental Research is manipulating one
variable to determine its effect on another
variable
 If a causes any change in b
 This method relies on controlled research
methods testing hypotheses
 Experimental Method
 Experimental research consists of several
variables:
 Independent Variables: the variable manipulated
(changed, influenced) by the researcher
 Dependent Variables: the variable measured to
reveal the effect of the manipulated variable
 Experimental controls: include control condition -
participants are treated identically to participants in
experimental condition, except that the independent
variable is not applied to them
 Hypothesis – a precise, testable statement of what the
researchers predict will be the outcome of the study
 IV. Research Methods
 Experimental Research
 In the experimental condition: all participants
are exposed to the independent variable
 Experimental Group: group that receives a
treatment in an experiment
 Control Group: group that receives no
treatment in an experiment
Example of Experimental Research
 Basic Research Methods
 Descriptive Research: includes several
types of studies to gather data
 Naturalistic Observation is used to study
behavior in its natural setting
 Surveys use tests, questionnaires, and
interviews to sample a wide variety of
behaviors and attitudes (must choose people
carefully)
 Case study in-depth study of a single
research participant
 Naturalistic observation
 A qualitative research method to record
the behaviors of participants in real life
settings (unchanged/ normal enironment
 Complete non interference and influence
of variables
 Watching an animal’s eating pattern in a
forest
 Observe behavior of students in classroom
 Surveys
 First commonly used research method
 A survey gathers data by asking groups of
people about their thoughts, reactions or
opinions to fixed questions through written
questionnaires or by interviewing people orally
 By interviewing people with direct questions
psychologists can get information about people’s
attitudes and behaviors
 Anxiety, happiness, attitudes etc.
 Survey Research
 Problems with Surveys: the findings of
interviews and questionnaires may not be
completely accurate because…
 People may not be honest about their attitudes or
behavior
 People may limit their responses for privacy
reasons
 People may say what they think the interviewers
want to hear
 Case Study
 The use of a descriptive research
approach to obtain an in-depth
investigation and analysis of a person, a
small group or phenomenon
 Personal interviews, direct observation,
psychological tests
 Correlational Research
 A type of non-experimental research to
measure the relationship between two or
more variables
 Allows scientists to determine the degree
direction and intensity) of relationship
between variables
 Time factor and boredom in class
 Academic success and self esteem
 Correlational Research
 Positive, negative and zero correlations are
discussed when using this type of research
 IV. Research Methods
 Correlation is a major research method in
Psychology

 It CANNOT show a Cause and Effect

Relationship

 Just because two things are related does

not mean one causes the other
Four Major Research Methods