Wilhelm Wundt Flashcards
What did Wundt do?
In 1879 Wundt opened the first experimental psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany where he separated psychology from philosophy by analysing the mind in a more structured way through introspection.
What is introspection?
‘the examination of one’s own thought process’ - Wundt trained researchers to report analyse their experiences of situations, in regards to feelings, emotions and sensations.
What are the scientific processes?
Predictability - hypothesis testing, Control - empirical methods, Falsifiability, Replicability, Objectivity, Generalisability.
Definition of predictability - hypothesis testing
A formulation of a hypothesis which can be tested, a good theory must be able to generate testable hypotheses and these theories are modified through the process of hypothesis testing.
Definition of control - empirical methods
Information gained by direct observation with control of confounding variables.
Definition of falsifiability
The only way to prove theory is correct is to find evidence that disproves it.
Definition of replicability
In order to demonstrate the validity of any observation is to repeat it and have the same outcome.
Definition of objectivity
Empirical data should be objective, where it should not be affected by the experimenters/ observers beliefs.
Definition of generalisability
The ability to generalise results from the scientific method to the wider community
