Overview of Psychology's History and Research Methods

Wilhelm Wundt

Established first psychology lab in 1879.

Psychology

The study of consciousness and behavior.

G. Stanley Hall

Founded first U.S. psychology lab in 1883.

Structuralism

Analyzed consciousness into basic elements.

Introspection

Systematic observation of one's own experience.

Functionalism

Investigated the purpose of consciousness.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate on genetic vs. environmental influences.

Nature

Innate traits from genetic and biological makeup.

Nurture

Learned traits from environmental influences.

Tabula Rasa

John Locke's concept of the mind as a blank slate.

Behaviorism

Psychology as the scientific study of behavior.

John Watson

Pioneered behaviorism in America.

Psychoanalysis

Explains personality through unconscious forces.

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalysis and unconscious mind theory.

Unconscious

Mental processes outside of awareness.

Humanism

Focus on unique human qualities and growth.

Cognitive Revolution

Study of information processing and consciousness.

Biological Perspective

Explains behavior through physiological processes.

Clinical Psychology

Study and treatment of mental disorders.

Experimental Psychology

Study of various human interests.

Variable

Anything that can change in research.

Theory

Broad idea explaining a phenomenon.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction derived from a theory.

Operational Definition

Objective description of how a variable is measured.

Replication

Re-testing hypotheses for reliability.

Experiment

Manipulating one variable to observe changes.

Independent Variable (IV)

Variable manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

Variable affected by manipulation.

Experimental Group

Participants receiving special treatment in an experiment.

Control Group

Participants not receiving special treatment.

Random Assignment

Equal chance for participants in groups.

Correlation

Numerical relationship between two variables.

Correlation Coefficient

Index indicating strength and direction of relationship.

Positive Correlation

Variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases as the other decreases.

Third Variable Problem

Unaccounted variable affecting correlation results.