Origins of Psychology Flashcards
Who used the technique of introspection?
Wilhelm Wundt
What is introspection?
When participants are asked to reflect on their own cognitive processes and describe them
What is the order of the scientific process (hypothetico- deductive model)?
- Run objective + replicable observations
- Build on observations + refine
- Develop a theory
- Test theory
what does FROGS stand for?
F- falsifiable
R- replicable
O- objective
G- general laws
S- systematic
What does falsifiable mean?
All theories and research must be capable of being tested and potentially disproved, if they are not it’s unfalsifiable and not scientific
What does replicable mean?
To be considered scientific, research procedures should be capable of being repeated to check the consistency of findings. Procedures should be standardised, so the only variables that could affect what’s measured are those manipulated by the researcher
What does objective mean?
For a measure to be objective, it should be observable and measurable on an agreed scale that isn’t open to interpretation. This means that any researcher bias and expectations can’t influence the data collection
What does general laws mean?
Using evidence to develop more basic generalisable principles about human or animal behaviour
What does systematic mean?
Evidence or recordings are carried out in a controlled orderly manner using direct observations and measurement
If the point is:
A strength of Wundt’s work is that it and introspection led to some useful general laws.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- By its very nature, introspection introduces personal opinion and beliefs.
Explanation- The lack of numerical data also limits the statistical analysis that could take place if measures like fMRI scans were used to objectively detect changes in the brain when completing key tasks.
Link- This means Wundt’s work has ultimately helped psychology become recognised as a credible scientific subject.
If the point is:
A weakness of introspection is that it can be highly subjective.
What is the evidence, explanation and link?
Evidence- For example, introspection activities in artificial contrived environments fail to fully represent real life experiences, so can be said to lack ecological validity.
Explanation- This is a similar issue with other methods designed to measure thoughts, intentions and behaviour in a scientific way, as the degree of control needed to make this scientific takes away from the realism of the task.
Link- This is likely to mean that introspection lacks scientific rigour and is not fully open to observation.
If the point is:
A strength of Wundt’s approach is that it was the first to try and apply the rigour of the natural sciences to the study of human behaviour.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Wundt’s work instigated psychology as we know it: The systematic observation and experimentation on human and animal behaviour using an evidence based approach.
Link- This has been valuable in helping move forward our understanding of behaviour.
If the point is:
A limitation of Wundt’s scientific approach is that it lacks generalisability.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Although Wundt struggled to create universal general laws, modern researchers have used introspection more successfully. Hunter et al 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 more upbeat.
Link- This implies that, by using the scientific approach, we cannot fully study all of human experience and behaviour
What are the evaluation points for Wundt’s work/ introspection?
+ Wundt’s work and introspection have led to some useful general laws
– Introspection can be highly subjective
+ Wundt’s approach was the first to try and apply the rigour of the natural sciences to the study of human behaviour
– Wundt’s approach lacks generalisability
