Myers’ EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (4th Ed)

Chapter 1 Introduction: Thinking

Critically with Psychology

James A. McCubbin, PhDClemson University

Worth Publishers

What is Psychology?Psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-Nurture Issue the long-standing controversy over

the relative contribution of genes and experience to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

What is Psychology?

Basic Research pure science that aims to

increase the scientific knowledge base

Applied Research scientific study that aims to solve

practical problems

What is Psychology?Clinical Psychology

a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

Psychiatry a branch of medicine dealing with

psychological disorders practiced by physicians who provide

medical (drug) treatment as well as psychological therapy

Why do Psychology?

Critical Thinking thinking that does not blindly

accept arguments and conclusionsexamines assumptionsdiscerns hidden valuesevaluates evidence

Why do Psychology?Hindsight Bias

tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

the “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenonOverconfidence

we tend to think we know more than we do

The Scientific Method

Theory an explanation using an integrated

set of principles that organizes and predicts observations

Hypothesis a testable prediction often implied by a theory

The Scientific Method

generate or refine

research and observations

lead to

hypothesis

Research StrategiesReplication

repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic finding generalizes to other subjects and circumstances

usually with different subjects in different situations

Case Study an observation technique in which one

person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Research Strategies

Survey technique for ascertaining the self-

reported attitudes or behaviors of people usually by questioning a representative,

random sample of themFalse Consensus Effect

tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors

Research Strategies

Population all the cases in a group, from which

samples may be drawnRandom Sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Research Strategies

Naturalistic Observation observing and

recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Research Strategies

Correlation a statistical measure that indicates

the extent to which two factors vary together and thus how well either factor predicts the other

Illusory Correlation the perception of a relationship

where none exists

Illusory Correlation

Do you believe that previously infertile couples become more likely to conceive a child after adopting a baby?

Conceive Do not conceive

Adopt

Do notadopt

disconfirming evidence

confirming evidence

disconfirming evidence

confirming evidence

Random Sequences

Your chances of being dealt either of these hands is precisely the same: 1 in 2,598,960.

Correlation and CausationThree possible cause-effect relations

LowSelf-esteem

Depression

Depression

LowSelf-esteem

LowSelf-esteem

Depression

Distressing events or biological predisposition

Research Strategies

Experiment a research method in which the

investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable) while controlling other relevant factors by random assignment of subjects

Research Strategies

Experimental Condition the condition of an experiment that

exposes subjects to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

Control Condition the condition of an experiment that

contrasts with the experimental treatment serves as a comparison for evaluating the

effect of the treatment

Perceptions of ViolencePerception of illegal play when players seen to

wear black

3

2

1

0

8

Color Visible Color Not Visible

Black Jerseys

White Jerseys

Research Strategies

Random Assignment assigning subjects to experimental and control conditions by chance

minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups

Research Strategies

Independent Variable the experimental factor that is manipulated the variable whose effect is being studied

Dependent Variable the experimental factor that may change in

response to manipulations of the independent variable

in psychology it is usually a behavior or mental process

Research Strategies

The Design of the Second Frank and Gilovich Experiment

Condition

Manipulation of Independent Variable

Measurement Of DependentVariable

Manipulation of Independent Variable

Control

Experimental

Not wear black jerseys(wear white)

Wear black jerseys Aggressiveness(game choice)

Aggressiveness(game choice)

Research Strategies

Operational Definition a statement of the procedures (operations)

used to define research variablesPlacebo

an inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the effects believed to characterize the active agent

Research Strategies

Design of the subliminal tapes experiment

Subliminal tape content

Self-esteem Memory

Memory

Self-esteem

Tape label

Research StrategiesDouble-blind Procedure

an experimental procedure in which both the subject and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the subject has received the treatment or a placebo

commonly used in drug-evaluation studiesCulture

enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people

transmitted from one generation to the next

Duck or Rabbit?Our preconceptions can bias our

observations and interpretations

Studying Psychology

SQ3R a study method incorporating

five steps:SurveyQuestionReadRehearseReview