PSYU1101 WEEK 2 PRE Class PDF

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Scientific Skepticism 1.3a Identify the key features of scientific skepticism 1.3b Identify and explain the text’s six features of scientific thinking What is scientific skepticism?

Definition of scientific skepticism – Approach of evaluating all claims with an open mind, but insisting on persuasive evidence before accepting them. Two attitudes (Carl Sagan 1955): Willingness to keep an open mind Willingness to accept claims only after researchers have subjected them to careful scientific testing Scientific thinking Set of skills for evaluating all claims in an open minded and careful fashion 6 principles Ruling out rival hypotheses (have important alternative explanations been excluded?) Correlation vs causation (can we be sure that A led to B?) Falsifiability (Can the claim be disproved?) Replicability (Can the results be duplicated in other studies?) Extraordinary claims (Is the evidence as strong as the claim?) Occam’s razor/principle of parsimony (Does a simpler explanation fit the data just as well?) simpler is better ST Principle 1 – Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Whenever you evaluate a psychological claim, ask yourself whether this claim runs counter to many things already known, and if it does, whether the evidence is strong enough to cause the claim ST Principle 2 - Testing predictions Novel prediction – a forecast that no one would expect were it not for that particular theory Whenever you evaluate a psychological claim, you should ask yourself how in principle could you test it. What novel predictions does it make that differentiate from other theories. ( predicting the exact scores in multiple matches compared to just predicating the winning/losing team ST Principle 3 – OCCAMS RAZOR/Principle of parisomony Whenever you evaluate a psychological claim ask yourself whether the explanation offered is the simplest explanation that accounts for the data or whether simpler explanations can account for the data equally well. ST Principle 4 – Replicability Whenever you evaluate a psychological claim ask yourself whether independent investigators have replicated the findings that support this claim; otherwise the results could have been a one time “fluke” ST principle 5 – Ruling out rival hypotheses Whenever you evaluate a psychological claim ask yourself whether you have excluded other plausible explanations for it. ST principle 6 – Correlation is not necessarily causation We should remember that a correlation between two things does not necessarily demonstrate that there is a causal connection between them ( does A lead to B? or perhaps C causes both A and B ) Psychology’s past and present 1.4a Identify major theoretical frameworks of psychology 1.4b Describe the different types of psychologists and identify what each of them does 1.4c describe two great debates that have shaped the field of psychology 1.4d describe how psychological research affects our daily lives Early history of psychology: Difficult to distinguish from philosophy for many years

Psychological departments initially did not exist No experimental research Relied on common sense Was tied to spiritualism Mid to late 1800s: Americans fascinated with spirit mediums and psychics Many psychologists of that time invested a lot of time in search of such paranormal capacities. They failed Slowly distanced from spiritualism and developed the psychology of human error and self-deception Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) Developed the first fully-fledged psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879 1879: Commonly considered the birth of modern psychology Focused on basic questions concerning our mental experiences How different must two colours be to tell them apart? How long does it take to react to a sound? What thoughts come to mind when we solve a math’s problem Used a combination of research methods such as reaction time procedures and introspection Introspection required trained observers to carefully reflect on and report on their mental experiences Theoretical frameworks of psychology What grand, unifying theoretical perspective, if any, best explains behaviour? 5 main frameworks Structuralism Leading figures: EB Titchener Scientific goal: Uses structuralism to identify basic elements or structures of experience Lasting influence: emphasis on the importance of systematic observation to the study of conscious experience Functionalism Leading figure: William James Influenced by: Charles darwin and James Angell Goal: To understand the uses and adaptive reasons for our thoughts, feelings and behaviours Influence: absorbed into psychology and continues to indirectly influence it in numerous ways Behaviourism Leading figures: Ivan Pavlov, John B Watson, Edward Thorndike, BF Skinner Goal: Uncover the general principles of learning that provides explanation for all behaviours, focusing mainly on observable behaviour Influence: Influential in models of human and animal learning, pioneered the focus on the need for objective research Cognitivism Leading figures: Jean Piaget, Ulric Neisser, George Miller Goal: Study the role of mental processes on behaviour Influence: Influential in language, problem solving, concept formation, memory, intelligence and psychotherapy Psychoanalysis Leading figures: Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler Goal: Understand role of unconscious psychological processes and early life experiences in behaviour Influence: Led to an understanding that much of our mental processing goes on outside of conscious awareness Types of Psychologist Clinical psychologist Performs assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders Conduct research on people with mental disorders Work in colleges and universities, mental health centers and private practice Counselling psychologist Work with people experiencing temporary or relatively self-contained life problems Work in counselling centers, hospitals, and private practice (some work in academic and/or research facilities) School psychologist Work with teachers, students and parents to remedy behavioral, emotional and learning difficulties Developmental psychologist Study how and why people change over time

Conduct research on the cognitive processes of infants, children and sometimes adults and elderly people to see how they change with age Experimental psychologist Study memory, language, thinking and social behaviours through research methods Work primarily in research settings Biological psychologists Examine the physiological bases of behaviour in animals and humans Most work in research settings forensic psychologist Work in prisons, jails, and other settings to assess and diagnose inmates and assist with their rehab and treatment Conduct research on eyewitness accounts or jury decision making Typically hold degrees in clinical or counselling psychology Industrial-organizational psychologist Work in businesses or companies to select productive employees, evaluate performance, examine the effects of different working and living conditions on people’s behaviour Design equipment to best maximise performance and minimise accidents Great debates of psychology Nature vs nurture (are our behaviours attributed to our genes or our rearing environment?) Free will vs determinism (To what extent are our behaviours freely selected rather than caused by factors outside our control?) How Psychology affects our lives? Basic research: How the mind works Applied research: How we can use basic research to solve real-world problems...