Critical Thinking 1

Critical Thinking in Psychology

Introduction to the Course

• Instructor: Jason Bell

• Academic background: Undergraduate and PhD at University of Western Australia (UWA)

• Course Focus: Teaching research design and perception in psychology.

• Research Interest: Visual perception in various settings (basic science, applied, clinical disorders) using diverse scientific methods.

Lecture Structure

• This is the first of two lectures aimed at covering:

  • History of Psychology

  • Different psychological perspectives

  • Scientific methods in psychology

• Focus on how these concepts link to lab reports and research design.

Understanding Psychology

History of Psychology

• Exploration of how psychology evolved through:

  • Philosophy: Foundation for psychological thought.

  • Phrenology: Study of skull shape and size as indicators of mental abilities (Franz Gall, mid-19th century).

  • Behaviourism: Emphasis on observable behavior (Behavioral perspective).

  • Cognitive Perspective: Focus on mental processes affecting behavior.

  • Biological Perspective: Examines how biological processes influence behavior and mind.

Types of Research Design

1. Correlational Research: Examines relationships between variables.

2. Observational Research: Involves behavior observation in natural settings.

3. Case Studies: Intensive study of specific individuals or situations.

4. Surveys: Standardized questions to gather data from large groups.

Key Perspectives in Psychology

Monism vs Dualism

• Monism: Belief that the mind and brain are the same entity.

• Dualism: View that mind and body operate separately, raising the Mind-Body Problem which explores the relationship between mental and physical states.

Behavioural Perspective

• Behaviourism: Argues behavior is learned and maintained through environmental control. Key concepts include:

  • Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

  • Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

  • Importance of observable behavior.

• Behavior Modification: Focus on altering behaviors by manipulating environmental factors.

Psychodynamic Perspective

• Sigmund Freud's Theory: Emphasizes unconscious motivations and early experiences.

• Key components: Id (instinctual drives), Ego (mediator), and Superego (moral conscience).

Cognitive Perspective

• Cognitive Psychology: Studies how mental processes such as reasoning and problem-solving influence behavior.

• The brain is viewed as an information processor.

Biological Perspective

• Investigates how physiological processes, such as neurotransmitter function and genetics, influence behavior.

• Behavioral Neuroscience: Study of how the brain and nervous system affect behavior.

Psychology Today

• Defined as the scientific study of behavior and the mind.

• Behavior: Observable actions and responses.

• Mind: Internal states measured through various approaches, integrating biological and cognitive methods.

The Scientific Process

1. Identify a question of interest.

2. Formulate a hypothesis.

3. Conduct research to test the hypothesis.

4. Analyze data and report findings.

5. Build and contribute to a body of knowledge.

The Pitfalls of Everyday Thinking

• Mental shortcuts, illusory correlations, confirmation bias, and failure to consider alternative explanations can mislead conclusions.

Statistical Relationships

• Example of correlation: Number of drownings in pools vs. films featuring Nicolas Cage (1999-2009).

• Visualization of data can illustrate how correlations are interpreted in psychological studies.

Research Methods

Correlational Studies

• Features: Examine relationships between variables.

• Strengths: Test predictions and evaluate theories.

• Limitations: Cannot confirm causation.

Observational Methods

• Key Features: Observations in normal settings (naturalistic/unobtrusive).

• Pitfalls: Observer bias and participant self-consciousness.

Case Studies

• Features: Detailed examination of specific individuals or situations.

• Strengths: In-depth descriptive analysis but may not be representative.

Surveys/Questionnaires

• Features: Standardized questions for many respondents.

• Strengths: Quick, inexpensive data collection; large data sets. Pitfalls include sampling errors and response biases.

Lecture Summary

• Psychology has a rich, varied history encompassing dualism, behaviourism, and cognitive neuroscience.

• Today's lecture explored different research designs, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.

• Next week’s focus: experimental manipulation and statistical analysis (descriptive and inferential).