1.ORIGINS

• What is a science?

  Science is discovering the physical and natural world systematically and objectively using empirical methods such as observation and experimentation
• What does systematic mean?

  Systematic is using a fixed or controlled method
• What is the benefit of a systematic approach?

  Using a systematic approach gives researchers confidence they have measured what they planned to measure; their measurements are not just the result of an error.It also allows other scientist to have the ability to replicate the findings using the same methods to check the initial results are not due by chance
• What is objectivity?

  The absence of bias in research,which can significantly impact a study's design,outcomes and conclusions
• Why is objectivity crucial in research?

  It is crucial that research findings are not influenced by the researchers personal opinions, which can result in a confirmation bias where researchers merely attempt to support their pre-existing beliefs
• What is empiricism?

  Scientists must test their idea and base their conclusions on data collected from the world not just accept theory
• Explain how empiricism is a fundamental aspect of scientific methodology?

  Empiricism is a fundamental aspect of scientific methodology .In science, hypothesis can only be accepted after systematic observation and taking careful measurements in well-designed experiment
• Explain the emergence of psychology as a science

  The status and value of introspection was being questioned by behaviourist John B.Watson.

  ● Watsons problem with introspection was it it produced data that was subjective in that it varied greatly from

  person to person so it became very difficult to establish general principles.Watson was also highly critical of introspection's focus on 'private' mental processes and proposed that a truly scientific psychology should restrict itself only to studying phenomena that could be observed and measured. Thus, the behaviourist approach was born, and with it the emergence of psychology as a science
• Before Wundt who was psychology limited to?

  Before Wundt who was referred to as 'the father of experimental psychology' the study of the mind and

  behaviour was limited to philosophy and medicine.
• What was Wundt aim?

  Wundt wanted to use the controlled empirical scientific research techniques used by the physical science to

  study the mind

  ● Wundt's use of scientific methods helped establish psychology as an independent field of scientific research
• What was Wundt research called?

  His research was called structuralism which was an attempt to uncover the hidden structure of the mind by describing it in terms of its simplest components
• What was the process of introspection?

  1. Participants are trained to report conscious experiences as objectively as possible

  2. Participants would be asked to focus on a sensory object, often a ticking metronome

  3.Participants would systematically report their experience of the object by breaking their thoughts into

  separate elements; participants would focus inwards and report sensations,feelings and images
• How is introspection not a direct observation?

  Introspection is not direct observation of mental processes; Wundt made inferences which means making guess or an assumption on the structure of internal mental processes based on observed behaviour
• What is a positive of Wundts study?

  For his time,Wundt's work was highly scientific,primarily because of the controlled experiments,large sample size and transparent methods he used.This systematic approach allowed him to develop theories of mental processes and enabled other researchers to replicate hs findings.His emphasis on scientific methodology was a significant inspiration for subsequent scientific psychologists including behaviourists
• What is a positive and negative of Wundt study?

  Compared to modern psychological techniques,Wundt introspective methods are considered

  subjective and are not classified as truly scientific.Participants cannot be relied on to accurately report their mental states, as self reports may be biassed,mistaken or influence by demand characteristics, where they provide results they think the researcher wants.HOWEVER,introspection remains relevant

  for studying unobservable mental processes such as mental processes such as emotional states and

  is also used in various forms of therapy
• What is a negative of Wundt study?

  Wundt use of interference to identify internal mental states has been criticised; inferences are assumptions so they could be mistaken.Bhevaiourists psychologists rejected the study of internal mental states, seeing the mind as a 'black box; they only studied fully observable stimulus-response mechanism because these behaviourists findings were more reliable and behaviourism is seen as an approach more in line with scientific principles