Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology
"Psychology has a long past, but a short history." This statement by Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850–1909), a pioneer of psychological research, captures the history of psychology as a discipline. Although it is a relatively new, formal academic subject, psychology seeks to answer questions that have been around since the beginning of humanity.
In this unit, we review the history of psychology as a discipline. We explore its ancient philosophical, prescientific roots and recent reincarnation as a scientific field of study.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 4 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- define psychology;
- identify the role of major researchers and theorists in the development of the field of psychology;
- summarize the main schools of thought in the history of psychology;
- describe the scientific method, research methods in psychology, and the principles of scientific research planning and design; and
- explain data analysis techniques commonly used in psychology research.
1.1: What Is Psychology?
Psychology is a scientific discipline with more than a century of official history. As you study this section, think about how we define psychology. Why do so many programs require students to take psychology courses like this? Why are some people skeptical about psychology as a science? How has the study of psychology changed since the 19th century?
We call psychology a social science. Watch this video to explore how psychology fits within the other sciences. How is psychology a unique discipline?
1.2: History of Psychology
Psychology has been dominated by a series of schools of thought headed by a variety of prominent theorists. In this section, we explore how various areas of psychology fit together, given the incredible diversity of its topics. Why is an undergraduate education in psychology so helpful in so many different professions? Why should you consider obtaining a graduate degree in psychology other than to increase your salary?
This text describes the progression of psychological thought: from its early beginnings in the laboratory of Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) in Leipzig, Germany, to its importation to the United States, to the series of theories that dominated the mid-20th century.
What aspects of psychology were those who follow the behaviorist approach reacting to? What are some ethical concerns associated with Stanley Milgram's (1933–1984) research on obedience?
Watch these two videos, which give a concise overview of the history of psychology.
Read this text, which describes the diversity of approaches within psychology.
Read this text to explore various divisions within psychology according to the American Psychological Association (APA), the primary professional organization of our discipline. Pay attention to the career opportunities it presents for those who have earned psychology degrees.
Wilhelm Wundt is credited with founding the field of psychology through his research using a technique called introspection. Watch this video, which explains introspection and its influence on the school of thought known as structuralism.
This video explains how psychology was strongly influenced by the theory of evolution, which was critical in founding the school of thought known as Functionalism.
Watch this video, which explains how psychology breaks down the mind-body question.
In the United States, psychology quickly moved from an evolutionary perspective with Functionalism to a behavior-based perspective. Watch this video, which explains Watson's perspective of behaviorism.
1.3: The Importance of Psychological Research and Its Approaches
Psychology researchers use the scientific method to explore phenomena systematically and objectively. But why do they bother? Isn't everything psychologists study merely common sense? This section explores why following correct research procedures is so important. We also examine various research methods that are available for research in psychology.
Read this text, which introduces the scientific method, which involves making a hypothesis or general premise, deductive reasoning, making empirical observations, and inductive reasoning,
Read this text, which explores several research methods psychologists use. Make sure you can answer the following questions.
- The conjoined twins, Krista and Tatiana, were potential participants in a case study. Can you describe other circumstances where this research approach might be helpful? Explain your answer.
- Reality television programs presumably provide a realistic portrayal of the behavior of the featured characters. However, our text states that this rarely occurs. What changes could producers adopt to display a more honest and realistic portrayal of their behavior?
- Aside from biomedical research, what other research areas could benefit from longitudinal and archival research?
1.4: Analyzing Findings
After research scientists collect data, they need to analyze it to determine whether it supports their original hypothesis or not. Let's examine some key statistics we frequently use in psychological research.
As you read this text, consider the following research and correlation questions.
At the beginning of the text, we learn about research that suggests there is a correlation between eating cereal and weight. Cereal companies that present this information in their advertisements could lead someone to believe that eating more cereal promotes a healthier weight. Why would they make this claim? What arguments could you make to counter this cause-and-effect claim?
Recently, a study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer established a negative correlation between coffee consumption and breast cancer. It found that women who consumed more than five cups of coffee daily were less likely to develop breast cancer than those who never consumed coffee (Lowcock, Cotterchio, Anderson, Boucher, & El-Sohemy, 2013). Imagine you see a newspaper story about this research that says, "Coffee Protects Against Cancer". Why is this headline misleading, and why would a more accurate headline draw less interest?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to obtain true random sampling. Many researchers use convenience samples as an alternative. For example, one popular convenience sample might involve students enrolled in Introduction to Psychology courses. What are the implications of using this sampling technique?
1.5: Ethics
Finally, let's explore ethical considerations when conducting research on human subjects, including informed consent and debriefing, and the special considerations when research is conducted on animal subjects.
Read this text. Peer review is an important part of publishing research findings in many scientific disciplines. This process is normally conducted anonymously; in other words, the author of the article being reviewed does not know who is reviewing the article, and the reviewers are unaware of the author's identity. Why is peer review an important part of the scientific process?
Some argue that animal research is inherently flawed from an ethical standpoint because, unlike human participants, animals do not consent to be involved in research. Do you agree? Since an animal does not consent to be involved in a research project, what sorts of extra precautions should scientists take to ensure they receive the most humane treatment possible?
Watch this lecture on research methods in psychology. Pay close attention to why correlation does not imply causation and how other variables can influence a relationship between two factors.
Unit 1 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.