HUL261: Introduction to Psychology

Semester II, 2022 - 2023

Lecture 2
January 9, 2023
Outline of today’s lecture
ž Recap of previous lecture
ž Why Psychology is a science
ž Methods of research in psychology
ž Designing a study in psychology

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Recap of previous lecture
ž Meet and greet
ž Defining Psychology
ž Video on false memories
ž Video on the Stanford Prison Experiment

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Why is psychology a science?
ž Psychology is the science of studying mental processes,
experiences and behaviour in different context
ž It is derived from two Greek words psyche meaning soul
and logos meaning science or study of a subject
ž Psychological research uses the scientific method
ž The focus on the scientific study of the mind
ž The methods of psychological research be as rigorous as
the methods of chemistry and physics

scientific study of the mind

 The Scientific Method

Theory
ž Theory
— a general explanation as to
why a behavior occurs
Generate
or refine Hypothesis ž Hypothesis
— a testable prediction
Research
— often derived from a theory
and
observations

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Methods of research in psychology
1. Case Study
— In-depth observation of one person in hopes of
revealing universal laws
— One famous case study is that of Henry Molaison
(Patient HM)
— To treat his epilepsy, parts of his brain was removed
(bilateral parts of his medial temporal lobe) http://clinicalpsychreading.blogspot.com/2013/07/hm-
henry-molaison-anterograde-amnesia.html

— While his epilepsy was cured, he lost the ability in

some types of memory
— This informed about the types of memory and brain
functions
Purves, Neuroscience
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Methods of research in psychology
2. Survey
— A questionnaire about attitudes or behavior given to a sample
of people
ž Representative Sample
— A sample that is a perfect reflection of a population, only
smaller in size
ž Random Sample
— a sample that fairly represents a population because each
member of the sample had an equal chance of being chosen

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Methods of research in psychology
3. Naturalistic Observation
— Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring
situations, trying not to manipulate the situation
— It allows researchers to get a realistic picture of how
behavior occurs
— Researcher might actually become participants in a group, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A
%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Ffuture-

a technique called participant observation

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— One disadvantage is the possibility of observer bias – the cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjRxqFwoTCPD86NbmufwCF

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observer has a particular opinion about what they expect to

see and recognises only those actions that support their
expectation and ignores other actions

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Methods of research in psychology
4. Laboratory Observation
— Observing behaviour in controlled lab-settings
— Used when it is just not practical to observe
behaviour in a natural setting
— This allows greater experimental control
https://www.noldus.com/applications/lab-set-up

— But as this is an artificial setting, participants

might behave differently compared to natural
settings

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Methods of research in psychology
5. Experiment
— Precisely controlled studies that try to
identify the causes of behavior
— All experiments have two variables:
○ Independent Variable: variable manipulated
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/research/research-
facilities/social-and-behavioural-sciences/lab-facilities-
cognitive-psychology

by a researcher
○ Dependent Variable: observed
consequence of IV on some behavior or
mental process

https://libguides.grace.edu/ResearchSocialScience

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 experimental grp - exposed, ctrl grp - not exposed

How to design an experiment

ž Experimental Group: These participants are
exposed to the independent variable (treatment)
ž Control Group: These participants are not exposed
the independent variable
— This is a comparison group we use to be able to see
the effect of the independent variable (treatment)
ž Note: The measure (DV) is taken for both groups
ž Random Assignment
https://www.thoughtco.com/control-and-experimental-group-differences-606113

— Assigning participants to experimental and control

groups by chance
— Minimizes preexisting differences between those
assigned to the different groups

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Designing a simple experiment
ž Question: How much time does it take us to make a
simple decision?
ž What would you measure?
ž What experimental design would you use?

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Measures used in experiments
ž Many cognitive psychology experiments use two simple
measures:
— Reaction Time – The time between the presentation of the stimulus and
the response
— Accuracy – The accuracy of the response
Reaction Time

Stimulus Response
Press the mouse button

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Donders’s reaction time experiment
ž Donders (1879) was interested in finding
out how long it takes to make a decision
ž He looked at RT in two conditions:
— RT when participants respond as soon as a light Goldstein. Cognitive Psychology

turns on
— RT when participants had to decide whether to
press the left or right button
ž RTChoice– RTSimple = Time taken to decide
ž Time taken to decide ~0.1 s
Goldstein. Cognitive Psychology

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Values preferred in a psychologist

ž Accuracy
ž Objectivity
ž Skepticism
ž Open-mindedness

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Donder's reaction time experiment, Henry Molaison - case study (epilepsy cured by
removing bilateral parts of medial temporal lobe, 0.1 s is reaction time,

Conclusions
ž Methods of studying psychology:
— Case Study: In-depth observation of one person in hopes of revealing
universal laws
— Survey: A questionnaire about attitudes or behavior given to a sample of
people
— Naturalistic Observation: Observing and recording behavior in naturally
occurring situations, trying not to manipulate the situation
— Laboratory Observation: Observing behaviour in controlled lab-settings
— Experiment: Precisely controlled studies that try to identify the causes of
behavior
ž How to design an experiment

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