Paper 2

Question 1

Wundt summarisation

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Answer 1

• Known as the father of psychology
• First to try controlled research (scientific)
• First lab setup in Leipzig, Germany (1879) - The Institute for Experimental Psychology
• Believed the mind could be understood by looking at its most basic elements (INTROSPECTION USED)
• Paved the way for cognitive psychology later on

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a scienc

Approaches

Question 2

Introspection (key method)

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Answer 2

• Trained students to make pbservations of their own sensations and mental experiences…
• Response - standard stimulus following standardised instructions
• E.g. seated his ppt in a soundproof cabinet + started a ticking metronome/exposed them to light
• Ppts recorded any sensations, perceptions or images that immediately came to mind
• Aimed to break down these thoughts + sensations into the component parts (structuralism)

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Question 3

Evaluation of Introspection

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Answer 3

+ Still used today e.g. Griffiths, 1994, study of fruit machine gamblers
+ Inspired the rest of Psychology which has gone on to develop the scientific agenda and improved research techniques
- Relies of self-report (unreliable)
- Produced from subjective data
- Cannot be replicated

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Question 4

The “Scientific Method” key features

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Answer 4

Hypothesis testing - generating hypotheses from observations + testing them to generate theories
Objective - not influenced by bias or opinion
Replicable - conditions can be exactly recreated and repeated to test whether findings are consistent or mere fluke
Falsifiable - things being tested can be measured and then proved wrong
Empirical - based on evidence which can be observed

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Question 5

The emergence of Psychology as a science

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches

Answer 5

• Following the cognitive revolution the study of mental processes is now seen as legitimate and a highly scientific area within psychology
• Mental processes are still private but cognitive psychologists can make inferences about how these work based on lab tests
• Biological approach makes use of experimental data + takes advantage of advances in technology inc. fMRIs and EEGs

Origins of Psychology and Psychology as a science

Approaches