wk2_L3. History & Methods 2

Question 1

Practise scientific thinking by…

Answer 1

• being open minded
• be willing to accept claims based on scientific evidence
• be able to change mind as new evidence emerges
• scientific scepticism

Question 2

Approaches to Scientific Psychology in history are?

Answer 2

STRUCTURALISM (1879 Wundt & Titchener)

FUNCTIONALISM (Based on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. William James 1842-1910)

BEHAVIOURISM (1910 Pavlovian Conditioning, 1911 Thorndike’s Law of Effect, 1878-1958 Watson, 1904-1990 Skinner)

COGNITIVISM (Thinking has powerful influence on behaviour. Neisser, Piayet, Broadbent, Tversky & Kahneman. Neuroimaging! Remains dominant framework in Psychology)

PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE (1856-1939 Sigmund Freud. Conscious and unconscious relationship. Identified ways of coping with anxiety. Not popular now but had large impact on psychological therapy & pop culture)

Question 3

People have long been interested in the mind - but only over last 140yrs has there been a scientific, systematic approach to Psychology.

Answer 3

TIMELINE of MAJOR EVENTS;

Question 4

What are the 6 principles of scientific thinking?

Answer 4

EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS require EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE
CLAIMS must be TESTABLE
OCCAM’S RAZOR
Has the claim been REPLICATED?
EXCLUDE RIVAL HYPOTHESIS
CORRELATION

Question 5

Principle of Scientific thinking - Extraordinary Claims require Extraordinary Evidence

Explain this?

Answer 5

Claims held to higher standard of evidence, such as ESP (extra sensory perception), which has had many failed test results, failed to replicate & even deliberate trickery involved

Question 6

Principle of Scientific thinking - Claims must be testable

Explain this?

Answer 6

‘show me’

E.g. (Sagan, 1955) A fire-breathing dragon lives in my garage. Can’t disprove, not testable, have to take his word for it

“Barnham Effect”

Question 7

Principle of Scientific thinking - Occam’s Razor

What is this?

Answer 7

If 2 explanations account for data equally well, prefer the simpler one.

Principle of parsimony

More often the simpler explanation is the right one

Question 8

Principle of Scientific thinking - Has the claim been replicated?

Explain?

Answer 8

Must replicate or possibly a fluke

Replication crisis (Nosek, 2015) found only 40% of scientific claims in history were able to be replicated, forcing researchers to take extra care, studies to be stricter.

Question 9

Principle of Scientific thinking - Excluding Rival Hypothesis

Explain?

Answer 9

Maybe there’s a good alternate reason for study findings that researchers haven’t considered?

Needs plausible alternate hypothesis

Question 10

Principle of Scientific thinking - Correlation

Explain?

Answer 10

A causes B

B causes A

Some other variable cause A and B

E.g. study of polio rates/ice cream sales in 1949. Ice cream blamed for polio rate increase, but 3rd variable of summertime not considered

Question 11

Influential approach of STRUCTURALISM involves?

Answer 11

Analysis of mind in terms of basic elements

1879 Wundt & Titchener’s first Experimental Psychology Lab

Studied basic elements of consciousness: sensations

Method of introspection

Criticised for being subjective

Question 12

Influential approach of FUNCTIONALISM involved?

Answer 12

Based on Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory

William James (1842-1910)

Understand adaptive purposes of thoughts, feelings, behaviour

Methods theoretical & empirical

Modern evolutionary Psychology

Question 13

Influential approach of BEHAVIOURISM involved?

Answer 13

1910: Pavlovian Conditioning. Pavlov’s Dogs. Sound previously associated with food can elicit salivation. (Classical Conditioning)
1911: Thorndike’s Law of Effect. Responses followed by satisfying consequences likely to recur (and the opposite)

Watson (1878-1958) believed proper subject matter of Psychology is behaviour, not unobservable in consciousness (BLACK BOX). Little Albert Study (Watson & Raynor, 1920)

Skinner (1904-1990) leading figure, Operant Conditioning

Question 14

Influential approach of COGNITIVISM involved?

Answer 14

Studies mental processes - perception, thinking, memory, judgement

1960’s dissatisfaction with view that mental life was irrelevant

Neisser; Piayet; Broadbent; Tversky &Kahneman

• Neuroimaging!

Question 15

Influential approach of PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE involves?

Answer 15

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Analysis of internal drives & conflicts that shape relationship between conscious and unconscious

Identified ways to cope with anxiety

Not popular now but hard big impact on psychological therapy & pop culture