UNIT 1
HISTORY & RESEARCH METHODS
Unit 1 Objectives:
History of Psychology Overview
Psychology’s historical development and current activities lead us to define the field as the science of behavior and mental processes. This introduction discusses the development of psychology and the range of behaviors and mental processes being investigated by psychologists in each of the various specialty areas. In addition, it describes the six major perspectives from which psychologists work. This is followed by a description of three major issues that cut across psychology, including the stability of our traits, the rationality of our thoughts and actions, and the relative contributions of biology and experience to intelligence, personality, and behavior. It then provides an overview of the diverse sub-fields in which psychologists conduct research and provide professional services.
Research Methods Overview
The Methods of Study section explains the limits of intuition and common sense in reasoning about behavior and mental processes. To counteract our human tendency toward faulty reasoning, psychologists adopt a scientific attitude that is based on healthy skepticism, open-minded humility, and critical thinking. This section of the unit also explains how psychologists employ the research designs of description, correlation, and experimentation in order to objectively describe, predict, and explain behavior. It concludes with a discussion of several questions people often ask of psychology, including why animal research is relevant, whether laboratory experiments are ethical, whether behavior varies with gender, and whether psychology’s principles don’t have the potential for misuse. This section of the unit introduces a number of concepts that will play an important role in later units. Make sure you understand the method of experimentation, especially the importance of control conditions and the difference between independent and dependent variables.
- Define psychology and trace its historical development.
- Briefly describe the different perspectives from which psychologists examine behavior and mental processes.
- Identify some of the professional and research interests of psychologists.
- Identify annud explain the big issues in psychology.
- Describe the scientific method and the scientific attitude that facilitate the development of psychological theories.
- Describe four methods psychologists use to observe and describe behavior systematically.
- Discuss why correlations enable prediction but do not provide an explanation.
- Describe the nature and advantages of experimentation and identify the elements of an experiment.
- Discuss the ethics of experimentation and how psychologists’ values influence their work.
- Explain the problems of bias on rational thought.
History of Psychology Overview
Psychology’s historical development and current activities lead us to define the field as the science of behavior and mental processes. This introduction discusses the development of psychology and the range of behaviors and mental processes being investigated by psychologists in each of the various specialty areas. In addition, it describes the six major perspectives from which psychologists work. This is followed by a description of three major issues that cut across psychology, including the stability of our traits, the rationality of our thoughts and actions, and the relative contributions of biology and experience to intelligence, personality, and behavior. It then provides an overview of the diverse sub-fields in which psychologists conduct research and provide professional services.
Research Methods Overview
The Methods of Study section explains the limits of intuition and common sense in reasoning about behavior and mental processes. To counteract our human tendency toward faulty reasoning, psychologists adopt a scientific attitude that is based on healthy skepticism, open-minded humility, and critical thinking. This section of the unit also explains how psychologists employ the research designs of description, correlation, and experimentation in order to objectively describe, predict, and explain behavior. It concludes with a discussion of several questions people often ask of psychology, including why animal research is relevant, whether laboratory experiments are ethical, whether behavior varies with gender, and whether psychology’s principles don’t have the potential for misuse. This section of the unit introduces a number of concepts that will play an important role in later units. Make sure you understand the method of experimentation, especially the importance of control conditions and the difference between independent and dependent variables.
Unit 1 Homework
unit_1_assignment_-_fall_2019.pdf |
Unit 1 Handouts
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Unit 1 Notes and Assignments
History and Perspectives
Day 1
Unit 1 - Day 1 - Common Sense Psych Quiz |
Unit 1 Day 1.pdf |
Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Research Methods
Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
Unit 1 Practice AP Questions.pdf |
Unit 1 OpenStax Book
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Online Practice Tests
SCHALLHORN AP REVIEW VIDEOS
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"CRASH COURSE" PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW VIDEOS
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REVIEW POWERPOINTS
(NOT MINE FROM CLASS, BUT VERY DETAILED!)
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Unit 1 Review Sheet / Study Guide
History and Research Methods Study Guide |