Introductory

Psychology
PSYC 200
Dr. Elliott S. Lee
Learning Outcomes for the Day
By the end of today, you will:
• understand the outline of this course.
• know the expectations of this course.
• explore the importance of psychology.
• be able to list subfields of psychology.
• attempt to discern topics studied in psychology and those that aren’t.
• understand the historical foundations, contemporary perspectives,
and future directions of psychology.
What is Psychology?
• Why are you here in a psychology course?
• What can you do with a psych degree?
• What do you know of psychology?
• What topics are studied in psychology?
Course Outline

Social &
Cognition Development Neuropsych Clinical
Personality

Bases of Our Brains & Minds

Introduction, History, & Methodology

 Readings

http://noba.to/dx6q5943
Free online

Physical copy
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$4 off]
Evaluations
• Quizzes
• Exams
Evaluations
Quizzes 24% Exams 56% Paper 20%
1 4% Midterm Exam 1 18% Topic & 1%
Research
2 4% Midterm Exam 2 18% Feedback 1%
3 4% Final Exam 20% Outline 2%
4 4% Feedback 2%
5 4% Draft 3%
6 4% Feedback 3%
Final Paper 8%
 Date Topic Chapter Evaluation Weigh
t
Wed Introduction History of Psychology
Sep 04 (optional)

Thinking like a
Psychological Scientist
Fri Sep Methodology Research Designs Create 3 paper 0%
06 topics
Wed Bases of Our Brains Evolutionary Theories
Sep 11 and Minds
Nature-Nurture
Fri Sep Conditioning & Learning Quiz 1 4%
13

Schedule Wed Cognition

Sep 18
Memory

Eyewitness Testimony &

Memory Biases
Fri Sep Judgment and Decision Decide paper topic & 1%
20 Making find 3 relevant
articles
Wed Language & Language Use
Sep 25
Intelligence
Fri Sep Review/Cushion Class Quiz 2 4%
27
Wed Oct Biological Bases / Midterm Exam 1 Midterm I 18%
02 Neuropsychology
Brain & Nervous System
Fri Oct Sensation & Perception
04

Wed Oct States of Consciousness Peer Feedback for 1%

09 Paper Due
Paper
Choose a topic and apply it to your life for self-improvement.

Date What’s Due Weight

Friday, September 6th Three potential paper topics
Friday, September 20th Paper topic and 3 APA references for peer-reviewed 1%
articles
Wednesday, October 9th Peer feedback about paper topic & references 1%
Wednesday, October 23rd Outline 2%
Wednesday, November 6th Peer feedback for outline 2%
Wednesday, November 20th Draft of paper 3%
Friday, November 29th Peer feedback of draft 3%
Wednesday, December 4th Final paper 8%
Moodle moodle.concordia.ca
Research Participation
• Concordia University Participant Pool
• 1 credit/hr of participation
• 0.5 credit/hr of online participation
• Max 4 credits/year = max 2% bonus in this course

• Bonus assignment
Contact
• Office Hours:
• PY 131.01
• Tuesday 12-1pm
• Friday 10-11am
• by appointment
• E-mail:
• elliott.lee@concordia.ca
Me! Dr. Elliott S.
Lee

• Social Psychologist
• LTA – research methods, personality,
science communication, and this class
• Family man
Keys for Success
• Giving advice fosters motivation (Eskreis-Winkler, Fishbach, & Duckworth, submitted)
• What tips do you have for succeeding in university?
• Pay attention to where focused is placed in class
• 2 hrs of work outside of class for every hour in class
• Talk to profs
• Recognize your own biases
• Find out if you’re on the right path
• Complete the pre-survey
Expectations of You
• Speak to me early
• Complete work on time
• Read material before class
• Participate in class activities
Importance of History
What would others fail to understand about you if
they did not know your history?
Timeline

APA Kahneman [& Tversky]

established win Nobel prize
von Helmholtz National Mental
neural impulse Health Act
Cattell
Wundt

1850s 1880 1910 1940 1970 2000

Freud

James
Weber & Fechner
psychophysics

Paradigms
Gestalt Cognitive psych Positive
Psychology gains momentum psych
emerges
Structuralism Behaviourism
Scientific Reasoning & Theories

Testing hypotheses based on

samples using inductive reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
What comes next?

But what if you knew this?

A Good Theory
Accuracy Consistency Scope Simplicity Fruitfulness Falsifiable
Scientific Few Explains a Ockham’s Guides and Able to
theories = exceptions wide array razor inspires new prove
empirical & agrees of research alternatives
observation with other phenomena wrong
theories

Able to
determine
what evidence
would crumble
the theory.
Which is/are falsifiable?
 Classical music increases intelligence.
 Eating before exams increases performance.
 Cannolis are delicious.
 The mind does not exist.
Scientific Method
1. Consult theories
2. Generate hypotheses
3. Collect data
4. Confirm or fail to confirm hypotheses
5. Peer review from experts
6. Publish
7. Replicate
Trusting
Science
Without Proof
Why do you think media reports of science
talk about “proof”?
Objectivity in
Science

• Facts: statements about the world

• Values: beliefs about the way the world
ought to be
• Values inform questions, approaches, and
—potentially—research results.
Diversity
Cultural
Racial
Socio-economic
Level of analysis