PSYCHOLOGY: A SCIENTIFIC DISPLINE

Question 1

Sciences are broadly classified into groups

Mind map

write the examples as well

Answer 1

Physical Sciences (physics, chemistry, geology, etc) ; biological sciences (zoology ,botany, physiology, etc) and social sciences (psychology, sociology, economics)

Question 2

Science is derived from

Answer 2

Latin word “Scientia” which means knowledge

Question 3

Define Science

Answer 3

Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social worlds, following a systematic methodology based on evidence.

Question 4

Key Features of Science

Just the feature, not the explanation

Answer 4

Empirical Evidence, Objectivity, Scientific Casuality, Systematic Exploration, Replication, Predictability

Question 5

Describe Empirical evidence

Answer 5

Science is an evidence-based approach to study and interpret information. Empirical evidence refers to acquiring information through direct observation or experiments. Scientific knowledge is based on verifiable evidence so that other scientists can measure or observe the same phonemena and verify its accuracy in the future.

Question 6

Describe Objectivity

Answer 6

Science objectively studies a phenomenon under consideration. Objectivity means the ability to accept the facts as they are and not as the investigator might want them to be. It means that all sources of biases, hopes, wishes, prejudices, beliefs, values, etc. are kept aside while investigating a phenomenon.

Question 7

Describe Scientific causality

Answer 7

Science aims at finding out the cause-effect relationship between variables. In a scientific study, the investigator will try to control all extraneous variables to find the effect that independent variable has on the dependent variable.

Question 8

Describe systematic exploration.

Answer 8

Science adopts a certain sequential pattern while investigating a particular phenomenon. Sequential procedures include identification of problems, formulation of hypotheses, collection of facts, analysis of facts, scientific generalization, and prediction.

Question 9

Describe replication

Answer 9

Replication means the reproducibility of scientific knowledge anywhere and anytime under the same circumstances. Replication assures the reliability of results and enables the establishment of a scientific theory.

Question 10

Describe Predictability

Answer 10

Predictability is an important feature of science. Scientists don’t merely describe the phenomenon being studied but also try to explain it and make predictions accordingly.

Question 11

Psychology begins as a branch of philosophy

History Of Psychology as a science, pt1

Answer 11

The origin dates back to Ancient Greeks. Psycholgy didn’t emerge directly as a science. It was a branch of philosophy until the 1870s

Question 12

Psych emerges as a separate discipline

History Of Psychology as a science, pt2

Answer 12

Wilhelm Wundt, a german Psychologist established the first psychology laboratory in germany at the uni of Leipzig in 1879. This is considered as the official start of psych as a separate scientific discipline

Question 13

Emergence of Structuralism

History Of Psychology as a science, pt3

Answer 13

Structualism is widely regarded as th first school of thought in pysch. Wilhelm Wundt and his student Edward Tichener advoacted structualism. Wundt used the method of introspection to study conscious experiences like sensation, perception, etc.

Question 14

Functionalism

History of Psychology as a Science, pt 4

Answer 14

Functionalism was advocated by William James. He is considered as the father of American Psychology. He emphasized on the study of human consciousness.

Question 15

Behaviourism

History of Psychology as a Science, PT 6

Answer 15

During the early 20th century, an American psychologist named John Watson advocated a new school of thought called behaviourism. It rejected both the study of conscious experiences and the study of unconscious mind and made psychology a more scientific discipline by focusing on the study of observable behaviours.

Question 16

Psychoanalysis

History of Psychology as a Science, pt 5

Answer 16

In contrast to early school of thought, an Austrian physician SIgmund Freud proposed a theory called psychoanalysis. in early 1890s. He gave importance to the study of unconscious mind

Question 17

humanistic psych

History of Psychology as a Science, pt 7

Answer 17

The first half of the 20th century was dominated by behaviourism and psychoanalysis. During the second half of the century, Carl rogers, an american psychologist advocated for a new perspective called Humanistic Psychology. In contarst to the study of unconsiciousness in psychoanalysis and determinism in behaviourism, humanistic psych stressed the study of power of free will, self-actualization and self-determination.

Question 18

Cognitivism

History of Psychology as a Science, pt 8

Answer 18

During the 1950s and 1960s, psychoanalysis and behaviourism were replaced by the new perspective known as cognitivism. Ulric Nesser is generally considered the founder. Cognitive psych studies higher cognitive processes such as memory, perception, decision-making, problem-solving, intelligence, language, etc with tools like MRI and PET scans

Question 19

Mind map

Research Methods in Psych

Answer 19

1. Observational,
2. experimental,
3. survey,
4. Case study,
5. correlation study

Question 20

Describe experimental method

Answer 20

Considered as the most scientific method of studying behaviour. It is the method that assigned the status of science to Psychology. An experimenter uses the following steps while conducting the experiment
1. Identifying the problem
2. Formulating the hypothesis
3. Selecting an experiment design and standardizing the experiment procedure
4. Conducting experiment and collecting data
5. Analyzing the data
6. Drawing conclusions

Question 21

Features of experimental method

Answer 21

1. Most objetive method of collecting data
2. Enables accurate observations in controlled conditions
3. Findings are verifiable
4. Helps to find out cause-effect relationship between variables

Question 22

Define survey method

Answer 22

Survey method is defined as a research method used for collecting data from a pre-defined group of individuals to gain information and insights on various topics

Question 23

What does survey method make use of?

Answer 23

1. Questionnaires
2. Rating scales
3. Inventories
4. Interviews
5. Checklists

Question 24

Survey method is largely used by

Answer 24

1. Industrial
2. Social
3. Educational

Question 25

Describe observational method

Answer 25

observational method is used when experiments cannot be conducted. It is a method in which behaviour is observed in natural or laboratory setting. It is called natural or controlled observation.

Question 26

Observational method is widely used by

Answer 26

1. Social
2. Child
3. Clinical

Question 27

Describe case study method

Answer 27

It is an in depth look at an individual, a group or a particular event. It can be treated as a scietific method as it provides rich descriptive information often suggesting further hypotheses. It is one of the qualitative methods in psych. It is mostly used by clinical psychologists. Sigmund freud and jean piaget were the two imp figures to use this method widely

Question 28

Which techniques are used in case study method

Answer 28

a researcher collects information about a particular individual from multiple sources such as family, friends, teachers, peers, colleagues, etc to assess the current level of the individual’s psychological functioning. they may use techniques such as observation, interview, psychological tests, etc to collect information

Question 29

Describe correlation studies

Answer 29

Some scientific studies make use of correlation as a statistical too to understand the relation between variables, these are called correlational studies. if the change in one variable causes a change in the other, the variables are said to be correlated and their interdependence is called correlation. The extent is measured by correlation coefficient. it is between -1.00 to +1.00. the sign shows the direction of correlation

Question 30

types of correlation studies

Answer 30

1. Positive correlation- if one goes up, the other goes up and vice versa. the amount of correlation is between 0.00 and +1.00.
2. Negative correlation- one goes down, other goes up and vice versa. the amount if between -1.00 to 0.00.
3. No correlation- change in one doesn’t cause change in other. the coefficient is 0

Question 31

Psychology in pre-paradigmatic state

Challenges in establishing psych as a science

Answer 31

In contrast to mature and natural sciences, psych is a younger and a social science. even though it is considered a science,according to philosopher thomas khun, psych is still in pre-paradigmatic state.
It has not yet succeeded in producing a cumulative body of knowledge that has a clear conceptual core that is consequently agreed by experts in the field

Question 32

Issues in objectivity and validity

Challenges in establishing psych as a science

Answer 32

certain areas of psych such as personality, leadership skills, creativity etc rely on “soft” research methods such as questionnaires and surveys. methods such as introspection and psychoanalysis are inherently sujective. therefore, psych to some extent falls short on the criteria of objectivity and validity

Question 33

issues related to replicability and predictability

Challenges in establishing psych as a science

Answer 33

A major goal of psych is to predict behaviour based on its causes. In psych, making exact prediction is difficult because different people act differently in different situations. people are harder to study than atoms or particles. therefore, results are more varied, harder to control and difficult to replicate

Question 34

Objectifyig humans

Challenges in establishing psych as a science

Answer 34

Some exstential and humanistic psychologists in the field criticize that, by subjectifying the human behaviour to experimentation, psychologists objectify humans. Since it treats humans as objects that can be examined by experiments, psychology is sometimes potrayed as dehumanizing the most essential part of being human

Question 35

Define rationality

Answer 35

Stanovich and his colleagues while talking about rationality stated that, “Rationality involves adaptive reasoning, good judgement and good decision making”

Question 36

Define practical intelligence

Answer 36

Stenberg and his colleagues defined it as, “the ability to perform successfully in naturalistic settings in a way that is consistent with one’s goal”

Question 37

REBT

Answer 37

Dr. Albert Ellis proposed rational emotive behavioral therapy and gave values of rational living. He says that rational people are psychologically healthy people and possess certain characteristics like
1. Understanding self-interest and social interest
2. Self-direction
3. Tolerance
4. Flexibility
5. Self-acceptance and self-responsibility

Question 38

Understanding self-interest and social interest

Answer 38

“Safeguard self-interest and know others’ interest” is almost like a slogan of REBT. Rational people understand what self-promoting is and what helps them grow and they take responsibilty of making those choices but at the same time take care of not violating other person’s rights and aid in the survival of the society they live in

Question 39

Self direction

Answer 39

Rational people assume primary responsibilty for their own lives rather than demanding or needing excessive support or nurturance from others

Question 40

Tolerance

Answer 40

Rational people are highly tolerant. Tolerance is the willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs of others that are different from one’s own. Similarly they accept one’s own and others’ right to be wrong

Question 41

Flexibility

Answer 41

They tend to be flexible, unbiased in their thoughts and actions

Question 42

Self-acceptance and self-responsibility

Answer 42

They accept themselves unconditionally rather than rating or proving themselves and also accept responsibilty for their own thoughts, feelings, behaviour and beliefs