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