Intro to psychology

• Psychology

  The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
• Behaviour

  Any observable action (eg., smiling, dancing, waving, reading)
• Mind

  Refers to experiences or mental processes that happen within an individual, which can’t be observed (eg., sensations, memories, feelings, emotions)
• A person’s mind can influence their behaviour


  And their behaviour can influence their mind
• Psychologists attempt to understand what’s going on inside a person’s mind by observing their behaviour
• Psychologist

  • 6-7 years of study
  • Has a doctorate in psychology (PhD)
  • Treatments include psychotherapies (eg., talking therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT))
  • Can conduct psychological tests (eg, IQ tests)
  • Cannot admit patients to a hospital against their wishes (but can recommend hospitalisation)
  • No referral needed
• Psychiatrist

  • 12-13 years of study
  • Is a medical doctor
  • Treatments include prescribing medications to treat disorders as well as performing medical procedures
  • Cannot conduct psychological tests
  • Can admit patients to a hospital against their wishes if medically necessary/ for the safety of the public or patient
  • Referral is needed from a medical doctor
• Scientists use the scientific method to ensure the results of research are reliable
• Research method

  A specific way of conducting research to get reliable results

  
  

  Two main types:

  • Experimental
  • Non-experimental
• Experimental method

  Used to investigate whether one variable influences/causes change in another variable
• Reliability

  • The consistent measuring of responses each time the research is repeated
  • Can only occur if the research is done the same way each time
• Components of an experiment

  1. Participants should be randomly allocated to either the control or experimental group

  2. An independent variable is manipulated by the researcher to produce a change in the dependent variable

  3. All other variables which might cause a change in the dependent variable (extraneous variables) are controlled or eliminated
• Population

  The entire group of people in a particular category
• Sample

  A subgroup selected from the population of interest

  • A sample must be representative of the population being investigated
  • Researchers must aim to get a representative sample which is approximately the same (in terms characteristics) as the population being investigated
• Random sampling

  Where every person in the population has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample
• The larger the sample, the more likely it will accurately represent the population
• Variable

  Anything that can change over time
• Independent variable: The variable in the experiment that is manipulated or changed

  Dependent variable: The variable that is used to measure the effects of the independent variable

  
  

  • The relationship between the independent and dependent variable is what is being investigated
• Extraneous variables

  Variables (other than the independent variable) that can have an effect on the dependent variable and so can affect the results in an unwanted way

  
  

  • Extraneous variables can be a problem because experimenters can’t say whether the changes in the dependent variable are due to the independent or extraneous variables
• In an experiment there should be two groups

  • Experimental group
  • Control group
• Experimental group

  The group that is exposed to the independent variable
• Control group

  The ‘baseline’ group that is compared against the experimental group, and not exposed to the independent variable
• Allocation

  The process of placing participants into either the control or experimental group
• Random allocation

  When each participant has an equal chance of being placed either in the experimental or control group
• Random allocation ensures each group is as even as possible in respect to the population that the sample is taken from, helping to eliminate biased results
• Writing a hypothesis

  1. I: Independent variable

  2. P: Population

  3. A: Affect

  4. D: Dependent variable

  5. C: Comparison
• Ethics

  Moral guidelines or rules of conduct that help us distinguish right from wrong
• Ethics protect patients, research participants, the profession, and the professional themselves
• All psychologists and psychology students must abide by the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
• All psychiatrists are governed by the Medical Board of Australia, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RAMZCP)
• Role of the experimenter

  • Informed consent
  • Voluntary participation
  • Deception
  • Debriefing
  • Withdrawal
  • Confidentiality
  • Professional conduct
  • Principle of no harm/non-maleficence
• Informed consent

  Participants must be made aware of the aim of the research and the procedures that will be used. Consent must be written, and provided by a legal guardian if participant is under 18.
• Voluntary participation

  Participants must willingly approve to be part of the research and not be forced in any way
• Deception

  Participants should not be deceived about the nature of the research or procedures involved
• Debriefing

  Happens after the experiment; researchers/psychologists must be prepared to explain and discuss all of the procedures used and results with the participants. They must also address any issues that arise from the research.
• Withdrawal

  Participants should be aware that they have the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time and for any reason
• Confidentiality

  Individual results should remain confidential, and participant’s identities should not be revealed
• Professional conduct

  Psychologists must follow the guidelines set by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) at all times
• Principle of no harm

  Participants must not be exposed to physical or psychological harm at any time during the experiment