Psychologists use two significant factors in their studies, statistics and research, to either validate or invalidate their theories. Research plays a significant role in the study of psychology; it is used to discover answers to questions, and is understood through the use of statistics. “Psychologists use statistical methods to help them make sense of the numbers they collect when conducting research,” (Aron, Aron, & Coups, 2009 p.2). This paper will address and examine the roles of research and statistics in the field of psychology, will thoroughly define research and the scientific method, and compare and contrast the characteristics of primary and secondary data. This paper will also explain the role that statistics play in research and their importance to the study of psychology.
How did I/O psychology ‘evolve’ from general psychology? b. What was scientific management? Describe how Taylor and the Gilbreths were integral to it, using one specific example of a contribution they made in this area. c. What role did testing play?
The Experimental Research Method in Psychology Psychologists rely on various techniques or research methods to understand behaviors and mental processes. Each method has its advantages and limitations. The scientific method: * It begins with observation. The scientist observes that certain events, called variables, tend to occur together. In other words, these events seem to be related in some way.
Behaviourists want results, by which they can check measure and observe on the stimulus and the reacted response. McLeod, (2007) suggests humanistic, humanism and humanist are terms in psychology relating to an approach which studies the whole person, and the uniqueness of each individual. Essentially, these terms refer the same approach in psychology. This relates to the belief on genetics and the experiences we go through in life are different from each other. Through ‘ethics’
Psychology is the scientific observation and analysis of the pattern between, the human mind and its functions to determine behaviour, which helps in gaining empirical evidence that can be useful to everyday life and its individuals (American Psychological Association 2013). However, a question that arises in the following debate is how can psychologists study the mind and mental processes? And how and whether the mind is a separate component from the body? Findings show evidence that the body and mind can work in sync together and have an influence on each other (Descartes, 1961). For instance, when we considered an individual suffering from anxiety; which targets a person psychologically, we can see how this can also can reflect in the physical being, such as losing weight long-term or lack of breath when having an anxiety attack.
Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper PSY/360 March 17, 2014 Cognitive Psychology Definition Paper Cognitive Psychology is the study of the mind, including perception, attention, memory, decision making, problem solving, reasoning, and language. The aim of cognitive psychology is determine how cognitive processes are used what how the processes are influenced (Feldman-Stewart, 2009). According to McLeod (2007), “cognition literally means ‘knowing’. In other words, psychologists from this approach study cognition which is ‘the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired’” (Para. 3).
Zimbardo wanted to find out how ‘ordinary’ people would behave in a prison environment when designated roles as prisoners and guards so he conducted a group study at Stanford University, USA, with some male student volunteers. The volunteers signed a contract agreeing to a minimal diet, clothing and medical care for fifteen dollars per day. It was to be a two week ‘prison life’ study where some students were ‘guards’ and others were ‘prisoners’. This is a minority influence; where there are established members (prisoners and guards).When the experiment started the students who were to be the prisoners were arrested and fingerprints were taken, they were treated like real criminals, they were degraded and humiliated from the word ‘go’ so as they knew that this is what they were to put up with for fourteen days. The volunteers were not allowed to wear any underwear and were not allowed to use their real names; they were instead referred to by the number on their ‘uniform’, the effects of this on the prisoners is that they would lose their personal identities and they would not mean anything as a person which is a process known as deidentification, they were also
• Two or more propositions (the major and minor premises) • The conclusion Syllogism 1. What makes something a syllogism? The syllogism is the “basic form of deductive reasoning” (Kirby & Goodpaster, 2007, p. 156). According to The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology a syllogism is “a valid deductive argument comprising of three propositions; two serving as premises and the third as the conclusion” (2009). 2.
Eysenck (1967, as cited in Maltby, Day, & Macaskill, 2010) saw a need to assimilate the theoretical work of personality theorists with the practical work of experimental psychologists by identifying the main dimensions of personality, then going on to measure and test these dimensions via quantitative processes. He looked at genetic inheritance as well as the accepted legacy ideas of behaviourists regarding how environmental factors developed personality, theorising the differences in behaviour being due to biology and plasticity [ (DeYoung, 2006) ]. Eysenck collected large amounts of data via observation and self-reporting (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) in order to identify traits that were stable across time and situations. He then used a version of factor analysis to define 2 types or supertraits; extraversion and neuroticism, but went on to add a third, psychoticism, as the initial two were unable to explain all the data. Eysenck’s hypothesis is very descriptive, data-driven, and not predictive of future actions, however it offers a hierarchical similar to the later Big 5 model (Cosa and McCrae, 1992, cited in Maltby, Day, & Macaskill, 2010).
Scientific writing in psychology can include a research proposal, a research report or a lab report. A research proposal is a tentative design of a future research project. A research report is an extension of a research proposal and presents the results of research. A lab report is a report of one experiment and usually has an assigned format. One way to ensure that you understand the requirements of your brief is to take the assignment given one word or phrase at a time.