What Psychologists do and the Role of

Critical Thinking in Psychology

Presented
By
K. Whyte Ph.D.
Learning Objectives
 At the end of the lesson students should be able to:
1. List the areas of activity in which psychologists are
involved
2. Identify the three goals of psychologists
3. Appreciate the needed for the use of the scientific method
in psychology research
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the different methods of the
research used in psychology.
5. Describe the difference between negative and positive
correlation
6. Appreciate the difference between dependent and
independent variables
7. Explain the difference between experimental and control
groups
 What Psychologists Do
 Teach
 Research
 Practice

The goals of psychology are as follows:

1. To explain and describe behaviour & mental
processes
2. To Predict behaviour & mental processes
3. To control behaviour and mental process
Critical thinking Guidelines
 . Define the problem
-Be clear about the issues of interest
- Do not assume that all concerned have
same understanding and interpretation of
the issues.
Critical thinking Guidelines
Be skeptical./Ask questions /Insist on evidence
Who ?
What?
Why?
When?
Where?
How?
Critical thinking Guidelines
Examine the evidence/ claims and
conclusions
-Many people cannot be bothered with the fine

print, but it is important

-Keep in mind that many researchers and lay
persons are counting on the assumption that
people will not examine the details
Critical thinking Guidelines
 Examine the assumptions or premises of
arguments.
Conclusions are usually based on some
assumptions. Are these assumptions accurate ?
Are there undeclared biases that are impacting
the conclusion?
Critical thinking Guidelines
 Avoid emotional reasoning.
Both positive and negative emotions can
interfere with objective reasoning
 People tend make decisions and draw

conclusions that support strong emotional

positions
 People tend to ignore evidence that is not

compatible with their emotional positions

Critical thinking Guidelines
 Don’t oversimplify or overgeneralize
-The rules of classification about human
behaviour cannot be too simple
- Life and reality is not simply black or
white, either/ or
- The world is constantly changing and
life is dynamic one size doesn’t fit all and
what obtained in one context does necessarily
hold true in another
Critical thinking Guidelines

 Consider other interpretations.

-Even when it appears that one is certain of
a particular conclusion it is necessary to
consider alternatives
- Is there only one correct interpretation
to every situation?
Critical Thinking Guide
 Tolerate uncertainty.
- It is ok to accept that there might not be
concussive evidence to support one
positions one way or another
- There is room for subjectivity in life and
human relations there are situations and
circumstances that cannot be objectively
described or measured
 Conclusion
 Be willing to use critical life in your studies,
research, everyday life:
 When you watch commercials
 When you read your text books and listen to

your lecturers
 When you argue with your significant other
 When you read and listen to the news
 When you listen and read politicians claims
 When you read religious material and engage

with religious leaders