origins of psychology , Wilhelm Wundt structuralism and the scientific method

define learning

a long term change in behaviour

what is the scientific method?

the use of investigative methods that are objective that are objective (no investigator effects), systematic (well-ordered method) and replicable, and the formulation, testing and modification of hypotheses based on these methods

what does SCORES F stand for?

• systematic procedures

• control variables

• objective measures

• replicable

• ethical

• scepticism

• falsifiable

what is a deduction?

start with a theory then look in to evidence to support it

what is an induction?

starting with evidence then devise a theory to explain it

define structuralism

an approach aimed to reduce every mental process down to its most basic elements

define introspection

a technique break conscious awareness into its basic structures of thoughts, images, sensations etc.

latin for looking into

what are the problems with introspection?

1. unreliable = impossible to report on unconscious processes in the brain

2. not replicated other researchers got different findings

3. inaccurate perceptions of our perceptions are frequently wrong

what are the 3 steps of introspection?

1. Presented with Stimulus ie the turning on of a light.

2. Inspect own thoughts - Report back their own emotions, sensations & thoughts that resulted from the turning on of a light.

3. Draw Conclusions - Compare all the responses from the participants to see what was similar and different about them in order to draw conclusions.

what are instances where introspection can be used as research tools?

1. irrational thinking in gamblers

2. happiness in teenagers

3. decision making in consumers

define empiricism

the belief that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience, generally chatacterised by the use of the scientific method in psychology

what are the strengths of the scientific method?

• can show cause and effect

• can make predictions

• knowledge is built on fact not guesswork

• self correcting - weak theories are abandoned/improved

what are the limitations of the scientific method?

• highly constructed conditions are artificial

• much of psychological phenomena are observable we can develop theories but not methods to test them

• assumes behaviour is simple and conforms to universal laws like atoms, photons

where was Wundts laboratory?

Leipzig in Germany

what did Wundt believe?

that all aspects of nature including the human mind could be studied scientifically

what was Wundts aim?

was to study the structure of the human mind using structuralism and introspection

what was Wundts approach referred to as?

structuralism

what was Wundts technique?

introspection

what did Wundt pave the way for?

for the acceptance of psychology as a distinct science in its own right

why is the scientific method objective?

in that the researchers do not let preconceived ideas or biases influence the collection of their data

why is the scientific method systematic?

observations or experiments are carried out in an orderly way

how are measurements and recording of data carried out in the scientific approach?

carried out accurately and with due consideration for the possible influence of other factors

what are the 2 major assumptions of the new scientific approach?

1. all behaviour is seen as being caused (determinism)

2. if behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how human beings would behave in different conditions

what’s the scientific cycle?

1. objective, systematic and replicable observation

2. building refining or falsifying

3. development of a scientific theory

4. testing

what did Wundt claim about introspection?

with sufficient training, mental processes such as memory and perception could be observed systematically as they occurred using introspection

what did Wundt ask his observers to do with introspection?

they might be shown an object and asked to reflect upon how they were perceiving it

what does introspection allow?

made it possible to compare different pps reports in response to the same stimuli, and so establish general theories about perception and other mental processes

how was Wundts approach unreliable?

relied on non observable characteristics and perception and memory are unobservable constructs so therefore were unable to be reproduced by other researchers

how does the scientific method establish cause and effect?

its reliance on objective and systematic methods of observation, means knowledge is obtained through fact and scientific theories can be refined or abandoned

what is scientific knowledge?

self corrective

what did Nisbett and Wilson claim?

• that we have very little knowledge of the causes of and processes underlying our behaviour and attitudes

• some attitudes exist outside of conscious awareness so self reports through introspection would not uncover them

what does Nisbett and Wilsons claim challenge?

the value of introspective reports in exploring the roots of our behaviour

Evaluation of Wundts impact on the emergence of psychology

• discussion of the subjectivity of Wundt's methods in contrast to the objectivity of the scientific process and the difficulty modern psychologists have trying to objectively study unobservable matter

• introspective methods were not reliably reproduced/Wundt's difficulty with replication due to subjectivity

• discussion of the validity of introspection - many aspects of our minds are outside of our conscious awareness, eg research by Nisbett & Wilson

• greater contributions to the development of psychology by early behaviourists, eg Pavlov, than by Wundt, as they produced reliable findings with explanatory principles that were generalisable - much more in keeping with the scientific approach.