Scientific Methods Flashcards
What is scientific method?
A form of thinking based on research
Name the six parts of scientific method
1) Observation
2) Defining a problem
3) Creating a hypothesis
4) Testing hypothesis
5) Theory building
6) Publish results
What is an operable definition?
Defines something without clear meaning, such as frustration, and puts it into testable terms
Who is credited as the father of psychology? What was his method?
Wilhelm Wundt. He used stimulus to create a reaction and then used introspection to observe the reactions
What was Edward Tichener’s school of thought? What was it’s flaw?
It was called structuralism (classifying mental response into different building blocks)
It’s flaw was that different people elicited different responses (structuralists often disagreed)
What was William James’ school of thought?
It was called functionalism. They studied how the adapting mind helped humans survived. They modelled their ideas after and admired Darwin
What was behaviorism?
Behaviorism looked at observable behavior instead of using introspection. This eliminated the subjectivity that introspection caused
Name two prominent behaviorists
B.F Skinner and John B. Watson
What was Gestalt psychology?
It was a variation of structuralism that looked at the entire mental response instead of breaking it up into building blocks
What was psychoanalytic psychology? Who was its pioneer?
It was created by Freud, who believed that everyone had an unconscious that influenced thoughts, and that the unconscious sometimes came out through Freudian slips. He also created psychotherapy (cure through talking)
What was humanistic psychology?
It was a positive psychology that believed that humans had complete control of their will
How does modern psychology differ from the fiercely school based system of old?
People now draw from all schools of psychology to gain insight
Which perspective explains behavior through brain function and chemical process?
Biopsychological
Which perspective explains behavior through the process of evolution?
Evolutionary
Which perspective explains behavior through the environment?
Behavioristic
