Approaches- origins of psych Flashcards
Which of the following 3 statements apply to introspection?
1) developed by Wundt 2) involved recording own conscious thoughts 3)the first systematic experimental approach to psychology
What approach did Wundt use
Used a structuralist approach
What technique did Wundt use
Introspection
What did Wundt believe about the human mind
All aspects of the human mind and behaviour could be studied scientifically
What did Wundt call the first psych lab which he founded
‘The Institute of Experimental Psychology’
What does introspection do
Investigates internal events i.e. inner mental and emotional states, by examining conscious thoughts and feelings as a form of data collection
What does introspection allow
To observe and report on our inner world of thoughts and feelings in terms of intensity, duration and quality
1st step of the scientific process
An observation is made of phenomena in the world
2nd step of the scientific process
A theory is developed to explain the observation, and a hypothesis is developed in line with the theory
3rd step of the scientific process
A hypothesis is tested using empirical methods
4th step of the scientific process
Results are analysed to evaluate whether the hypothesis is supported or not.
What does falsifiable mean
all theories and research must be capable of being tested and potentially disproved, if they are not (e.g. we cannot measure a concept) it is unfalsifiable and not scientific
What does replicability mean
To be considered scientific, research procedures should be capable of being repeated to check the consistency of the findings. This means procedures should be standardised so that the only variables that could affect what is measured are those being manipulated by the researchers
What does objective mean
for a measure to be objective, it should be observable and measurable on an agreed scale that is not open to interpretation. This means that any researcher bias or expectations cannot influence the collection of their data.
What are general laws
This involves using evidence to develop basic generalisable principles about human or animal behaviour that apply to all individuals.
What does systematic mean
Evidence or recordings (e.g. of introspection tasks) are carried out in a controlled orderly manner using directions observations/measurement.
Evaluation of Wundts work - Hunter et al
Wundt struggled to create universal general laws, modern researchers have used introspection more successfully. Hunter et al (2003) used introspection with teenagers to try and identify what makes them happy or unhappy throughout the day. Through teenagers questioning their own thoughts they were able to identify that when energies were focused on challenging tasks, they were far more upbeat
Evaluation of Wundts work -Introspection being subjective
Participants record their own conscious thoughts - this can easily change and is vulnerable to biasHis participants were his own students - demand characteristics!Everyone’s experience is different - they will reflect on their own sensations and emotions very differently to other peopleBrain / thoughts are too complex - this is not giving a holistic viewNowadays we have fMRIs / EEGs etc.
Evaluation of Wudnts work -practical applications
Wudnt was the first to apply the rigour of natural sciences to the study of human behaviour. Wudnts work instigated psychology as we know it i.e systematic observatioin and experimentation on human and animal behaviour using an evidence based approach. Practical applications - opened the first experimental psychology lab and trained 186 graduate students
Evaluation of Wudnts work - genralisability
Studied himself and his coworkersVery small sample of upper class white men from the 19th centuryLacks temporal validity / androcentric / ethnocentricResults cannot be applied to society as they are unrepresentative
