Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods

Opening Freewrite What do you think psychology studies? What are your

impressions of psychology? What do you think psychologists do? Write down anything that comes to mind!

Review Syllabus Read Psychology DP. Then discuss in pairs: 1. What are you most

excited about? 2. What are you

apprehensive/nervous about?

3. What questions do you have (list them!)?

4. How different does this look from your initial impressions in your freewrite?

Four Corners

Psychology is NOT a science.

Four Corners

Psychology usually just confirms what our common

sense knows.

Four Corners

People’s personalities and psychological traits are more the product of their biology and brain chemistry, rather than their environment and

socialization.

What does Psychology study? Human behavior (causes

and predictions)

Human thought

Nature/nurture debate

Biological Analysis

Cognitive Analysis

Sociocultural Analysis

All create the full picture EXAMPLE: Studying Anger

Biological: Studies brain circuits that create physical responses to anger.

Cognitive: Studies how our interpretation of a situation affects our anger and how our anger affects our thinking.

Sociocultural: Studies how expressions of anger vary in different cultural contexts.

Psychology Pre-Assessment Take the quiz

How easy was this? How confident are you in your answers?

Correct the quiz

Lori reviews main takeaways

Common Sense

Tomorrow… Specific biases that make nonsense of our common

sense

Qualitative research methods