What is Psychology?

Question 1

Define Psychology

Answer 1

Psychology is the scientific study of how we think, feel and act

Question 2

What questions does psychology aim to answer (2)?

Answer 2

• What causes people to experience different feelings and emotion?
• What factors influence the way they think, feel and behave as they grow and develop?

Question 3

Why is psychology a science?

Answer 3

Psychology is based on the scientific method

Evidence is used to support any claims made from research

Question 4

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 4

A testable prediction of a tentative prediction of the relationship between an independent variable an a dependent variable

Question 5

What are the 6 steps of the scientific method?

Answer 5

1) Identify a problem/question to investigate
2) Develop a hypothesis or exact research question
3) Choose research design
4) Gather data
5) Examine evidence- data analysis
6) Coming to conclusions based on evidence

Question 6

Define psychiatrist

Answer 6

Medical practitioners who have completed a medical degree before taking further studies that allow them to specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental and emotional problems. They can prescribe medicine and arrange hospital admission.

Question 7

Differences between psychologists and psychiatrists?

Answer 7

Psychiatrists can prescribe medicine and arrange hospital admission, while the area of psychologists is much broader than the area of psychiatrists. Psychologists are concerned with the whole range of human thinking, emotion and behaviour.