Chapter 1 PPT Slides

Chapter 1 – Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

• Introduction to the importance of psychology in understanding human behavior and thought processes.

• Critical thinking emphasized as a necessary skill in evaluating psychological phenomena.

Hindsight Bias

• Definition: The tendency to see events as having been predictable after they have occurred.

• Implications: Past choices evaluated more clearly post-event.

• Quote by Albert Einstein: "Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen."

• Quote by Barack Obama: Highlights biases in accepting information that aligns with personal opinions.

Perception and Reality

• Concept: "We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are."

• Emphasizes subjective interpretation of reality influenced by individual perspectives.

The Scientific Method

• Descriptive Research: Aims to describe characteristics of a population.

  • Methods: Includes case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys, and interviews.

Describing Data

• Measures of Central Tendency:

  • Mode: Most frequently occurring score.

  • Median: Middle score; equal number of scores above and below.

  • Mean: Average of scores.

• Example with Salaries:

  • Mode = $65,000

  • Median = $74,000

  • Mean = $246,727

• Measures of Variation: Reveal diversity in datasets.

  • Range: Difference between highest and lowest scores.

  • Standard Deviation: Measures how much scores vary around the mean.

Correlations

• Correlational Analysis: Assesses the degree of relationship between two variables.

• Correlation Coefficient: Numerical value that reflects the degree of the linear relationship.

• Scatter Plots: Visual representation of values of two variables.

Correlation vs. Causation

• Important distinction: Correlation does not imply causation.

• Experimental Design: Allows exploration of cause-and-effect relationships.

  • Variables can change and be measured (e.g., behaviors, thoughts).

Experimental Design Variables

• Independent Variable (IV): The manipulated variable/cause in an experiment.

• Dependent Variable (DV): The measured outcome/effect.

• Example Studies:

  • Dr. Clark: Examines exercise's impact on depression.

    • IV: Exercise (1 hour daily vs. none)

    • DV: Measured levels of depression.

  • Light Exposure on Mice: Studies the effect of light duration on maze-solving abilities.

    • IV: Hours of light exposure.

    • DV: Maze-solving times.

  • Classroom Temperature Effect on Test Results: Examines how different temperatures affect student performance.

Designing an Experiment Using the Scientific Method

• Observation: Recognizing a potential relationship between sleep and test scores.

• Research Question: Is sleep related to test scores?

• Theory: Adequate sleep improves memory.

• Hypothesis: Increasing sleep duration leads to higher test scores.

• Experiment: Includes control and replication mechanisms for reliability.

  • Independent Variable: Hours of sleep.

  • Dependent Variable: Quiz scores.

Ethics in Psychological Research

• Ethical considerations are crucial when conducting experiments.

• Milgram's Obedience Study: Explores impact of authority on participant behavior under ethical scrutiny.

• Harlow's Monkeys: Ethical concerns related to animal testing in psychological studies.

Summary

• The necessity of psychology in understanding behaviors, research methodologies, and ethical practices are fundamental themes in this chapter.