1. history

falsifiable hypothesis

can be tested and disproven

how did psychology become a science

descartes wanted to free science from religion and came up with the substance of mind and body

new psychology consisted of three strands of thinking

• study of sensation: developments from sensory physiology that provided a scientifc approach to the study of sensation

• associationist philosophy: contributions from the philosphy of mind that showed that higher mental processess could be studied

• neuroscience: medical findings that higher or cognitive processes were linked in some way to the brain

sensory physiology

ernst weber was interested in how stimulation of sensory nerve gave rise to sensations

example of weber observations

sensitivity decreases if the two compass points are placed in the direction of the limb rather than across it

just noticeable difference (JND)

the smallest difference between two stimuli that leads to a person pointing out they are different

weber’s law

JND / stimulus intensity = constant

criterion of difference

the minimum distinguishing feature that allows stimuli to be perceived as different by an observer.

signal detection theory

a framework used to determine the ability to differentiate between informative signals and noise in decision-making processes.

method of average error/adjustment

the average of two errors as a measure of JND

fechner’s law

s = k x log R, where S = sensation, equal to a constant (k) multiplied by the logarithm of the physical stimulus intensity (R)