Psychology as a Science…not a pseudoscience!

Why Psychology is classified as a Science•Psychology undertakes regimented,

observable procedures to test hypotheses and come to conclusions about the mind and behaviour

•It is a testable science based on empirical evidence.

The steps in this research are:•Identifying aims•Look at past research•Identify the aim and hypothesis•Design a research methodology to test•Collect and analyse past data•Draw a conclusions- accept or reject

hypothesis.

Other “Sciences”•There are other methods that study the

mind and behaviour that Psychology often is grouped with.

•Pseudosciences are systems or methods that try to explain human behaviour in non-scientific ways.

Pseudoscience- an analysis- due end of the lesson• Individually, pick a method of explaining behaviour

from Table 4.2…. (p.77)- Describe the procedure in this method of explaining

behaviour. - Find a website supporting and disclaiming the

evidence that this research works. - Poll 5 people in the class and ask if they have heard of

the method, and whether they think it accurate. Report your results.

- Write a paragraph on why your method is popular.- Write a second paragraph on your opinion on whether

we should use this method in explaining behaviour.

When finished•http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story

.php?title=psychology-aos1-quiz-2

•Google BBC online personality test, and complete the questionnaire. Answer q. 7a-d p. 81)

Pseudoscience•Pseudosciences are systems or methods

that try to explain human behaviour in non-scientific ways.

Forer- Barnum Effect•The Forer- Barnum effect is why

Pseudoscience are so successful and popular. ▫Barnum effect: Being vague so statements

apply to everyone.

▫Forer effect: Telling people what they want to hear.

▫Can you identify the Forer-Barnum effect in this video?

Palmistry•The study of a person’s hand formation

and the lines on the palm.

•Complete Investigate 4.1 (Q1-3) on page 81.

Phrenology•The shape of a head indicates an

individuals personality

•The Psychograph, identified in 1931 measured “bumps” on the head.

Astrology•The study of the stars, moon and

planets and your birth time affect your personality and predict your future.

•How accurate were your star signs from last week? (activity)

Numerology

•Using a rule or pattern in numbers to make predictions about a persons future or their personality.

•Complete Investigate 4.3 (p 86)Questions 1 & 2.

Reasons why Psychology isn’t classified in these same categories• … due to scientific approach and research methods.

• Most of the research methods we will discuss in Unit 1 you will have covered in either Maths or Science last year.

• Throughout Units 1-4 we build on these, so it is important you have a basic foundation of the following, before you learn new research methods relating to Psych.

• If you have any issues with the following, you must be proactive and let me know and I will set you some reading and work to help you. This knowledge is expected.

Variables•Variables are parts of an experiment that

change.•Two common ones are the independent and

dependent variable.

•The independent variable if manipulated and controlled by the experimenter

•The dependent variable is the measured outcome

Quiz: Pick the IV and DV•Ms Phillips was testing whether students

were more angry at the end of the day as opposed to the start of the day. She had two classes of students, so she measured their anger levels at the start and the end of the day by giving them a simple test. She found students were more angry at the start of the day.

Variables•Some variables can affect our experiment.

These are called extraneous variables, which distort our results.

•Can you think of an extraneous variable for the research above?

Hypotheses and Aim•The hypothesis of an experiment is a

prediction based on past research. Hypotheses should start with the word “That”. A hypothesis includes the dependent and independent variables.

•The aim is describing what the experiment is about in more general terms.

Groups•Experimental and Control groups

•In an experiment, every condition is measured against a base, or a control. This baseline is the control group.

•The factor you are testing is known as the experimental group. Can you pick these out in the above experiment?

Methods of collecting DataPsychology employs several different

methods of collecting data including:

•Observation•Experiment•Survey•Case Study•Interview

Methods•In Psychology, we also write down details

about the people involved in the experiment, referred to as the “sample”.

•This is like a materials section in a prac, but of the people. It is a sentence such as:▫24 Mentone Grammar boys aged between

13-14 years doing Science class were in the experiment.

Summarising Data• You must know how to calculate the mean,

median and mode. This gives us a summary of the data which would otherwise be to expansive.

• You should also be able to find percentages.

• Mean: average (add all results & divide by total number)

• Mode: Most often occurring answer/number• Median: Line up all numbers- the middle number. • Percentage: (individual total/total possible) x 100

Find the mean, median and mode of the following•The class results of a test were:

3,5,6,3,4,2,5,6,7 for a test out of 10. Mean:

Median:

Mode:

Student 1’s percentage:

Summarising Data•Graphing data and analysis is very

important in Psychology.

•You should know how to draw bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs. We will learn about some others.

•You must be able to identify the IV to put onto the horizontal axes, and the DV on the vertical axes.

This type of graph is expected prior knowledge – see me if you need help here.

mean median mode0123456

Average class results of a test

Measure of Central Tendency

Res

ults

(/1

0)

Conclusions and generalisations•Drawing conclusions and generalisations

requires probability and statistics. We cannot say any conclusion is drawn unless we know its statistical significance.

•Therefore, it is difficult to generalise without the statistics required.

Finding the IV and the DV•Try to identify the IV, DV and the method

of study in the following experiments.

Task- Astrology TestUsing the handout from last lesson, you will be required to fill in the handout as a prac report.

You are required to write this up and it will be due at the end of this week.

You can read over the sections now, and ask if there are any issues with any issues.

To do:• Cut out the astrological signs• Put in plastic pocket• Have a pen, criteria sheet, astrological signs and

consent form ready.

• In the classroom:• Make sure they sign the form first!• Ask them to read the 8 descriptors of their star

sign. • Rate each descriptor on their criteria sheet. • Stand outside the classroom.