AP Psychology An Artful Science

3. Areas by Research Interests

4. Areas by Profession

5. Developmental Psychology studies human mental and physical growth from conception to death • child psychologists • adolescent psychologists • life-span psychologists

6. Physiological Psychology investigates the biological basis of human behavior • neuropsychologists • psychobiologists • behavioral geneticists

7. Experimental Psychology learning memory sensation perception cognition motivation emotion

8. Personality Psychology Personality psychologists study the differences among individuals.

9. Clinical & Counseling Psychology Clinical psychologists are interested primarily in the diagnosis, cause, and treatment of psychological disorders. Counseling psychologists are concerned primarily with “normal” problems of adjustments in life.

10. Social Psychology Social psychologists study how people influence one another.

11. Industrial & Organizational Psychology Psychology applied to the workplace. I/O psychologists are interested in selecting and training personnel improving productivity and working conditions the impact of computerization and automation on workers

12. Warning! Industrial & Organizational Psychology was Mr. Hoffman’s undergraduate major

13. Enduring Issues in Psychology Person — Situation Heredity —Environment Stability — Change Diversity Mind — Body

14. Psychology as Science scientific method theory hypotheses

15. Scientific Method An approach to knowledge that relies on a systematic method of generating hypotheses, collecting data, and explaining the data.

16. Theory The systematic explanation of a phenomenon.

17. Hypothesis A specific, testable prediction derived from a theory.

18. Goals of Psychology describe, explain, predict, and control some behaviors

20. Structuralism: Wundt & Titchener Structuralism was concerned with identifying the units of conscious experience. 1879: Wundt founds psychology’s first laboratory at Leipzig Titchener subdivided consciousness into physical sensations, feelings, and images

21. Functionalism: William James Functionalism was concerned with the ongoing use of conscious experience. James argued that consciousness cannot be broken into elements. coined the phrase “stream of consciousness”

22. Psychodynamics: Sigmund Freud Freud focused on the unconscious determinants of behavior. Freud developed a method of therapy called psychoanalysis.

23. Behaviorism: Watson & Skinner Behaviorism is only concerned with behavior that can be observed and measured. Watson founded behaviorism. Skinner focused on the role of reinforcement.

24. Gestalt: Wertheimer, Köhler, & Koffka Gestalt movement was concerned with the perception of “good form.” coined the phrase “the whole is not equal to the sum of its parts”

25. Existential and Humanistic Existentialism is concerned with alienation and apathy in modern life. Humanism is concerned with helping people realize their full potential.

26. Cognitive Psychology concerned with memory, thinking, language, learning, decision making expanded the concept of “behavior” to include thoughts, feelings, and states of consciousness

27. Evolutionary Psychology concerned with: the evolutionary origins of behaviors and mental process, their adaptive value, and the purposes they continue to serve

28. Psychology and Human Diversity The American Psychological Association has created several divisions to promote the representation and appreciation of diverse perspectives.

29. 3 Feminist Challenges the most important research findings from the past were based on all-male samples gender difference studies tend to focus on the extremes of gender differences many issues that were not important to male researchers were not studied

30. Some Current Sexual Orientation Issues Being Researched origins of sexual orientation brain differences between heterosexual and homosexual men impact of gays and lesbians serving in the military

31. Ethnic and Minority Issues As a result of founding division 45, psychologists have developed a better appreciation for the unique challenges faced by individuals from various ethnic backgrounds.

32. Research Methodologies Naturalistic Observation Case Studies Surveys Correlational Research Experimental Research

33. Naturalistic Observation observing and recording the behavior of subjects in their natural environment

34. Naturalistic Observation Advantages can observe what occurs before and after a target behavior Disadvantages less control over variables cannot imply causality

35. Naturalistic Observation Advantages insight into the important factors to study no artificiality of the laboratory Disadvantages observer bias & subject reactivity target behavior only occurs once

36. Case Studies Intensive description and analysis of a single individual or just a few individuals.

37. Case Studies Advantages rich description of subject(s) each subject serves as own control Disadvantages generalizability is decreased by small sample size

38. Case Studies Advantages no large groups of subjects no random assignment Disadvantages subject may be an exception observer bias

39. Survey A research technique in which questionnaires or interviews are administered to a selected group of people.

40. Survey Advantages large quantity of information relatively inexpensive Disadvantages respondents may not be representative response biases truthfulness of responses

41. Correlational Research A research technique based on the naturally occurring relationship between two or more variables.

42. Correlational Research Advantages description and prediction possible Disadvantages no control over variables cannot imply causality

43. Experimental Method A research technique in which an investigator deliberately manipulates selected events or circumstances and then measures the effects of those manipulations on subsequent behavior.

44. Experimental Research independent variable: the variable that is manipulated by the experimenter to test its effects dependent variable: the variable that is measured to see how it is changed by the independent variable

45. Experimental Research experimental group: the group subjected to a change in the independent variable control group: the group not subjected to a change in the independent variable

46. Experimental Research Advantages conclusions about causality can be made Disadvantages more ethical considerations behavior is constrained to laboratory

47. Importance of Sampling sample: selection of cases from a larger population random sample: each potential participant has an equal chance of being selected representative sample: the characteristics of the participants corresponds closely to the characteristics of the larger population

49. APA Ethical Guidelines (humans) informed consent must be documented awareness of possible risks limitations on confidentiality specified limitations on the use of deception equitable alternatives must be offered if course credit is given for participation

50. APA Ethical Guidelines (animals) Researchers must ensure “appropriate consideration of [the animal’s] comfort, health, and humane treatment.” Animals may not be subjected to “pain, stress, or privation” when an alternative procedure is available.