PSYCHOLOGY 110-H
Dr. William Zachry
Fall Semester, 1996
Unit One: History and Research Methods of Psychology
GOALS
1. To consider the question, "Is a science of human behavior and mental processes possible?", and to form a preliminary answer supported by reasoning
and evidence.
2. To understand the origins of modern psychology, with emphasis on the period from l860 to the present. To know important names, dates, the goals, questions, and research methods of the followin
g: Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt, Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Humanism, Neurobiological, and Cognitive Psychology. To be familiar with the subfields and employment areas of modern psychology.
3. To
know the basic methods of research in psychology, including the following: observation, case history (interviewing, testing), survey, experiment (lab and field). To understand the logic of experimental design; i.e., to be able to explain how hypo theses
are tested to determine causal relationships among variables. To be able to apply the following concepts in analyzing research: independent variable, dependent variable, extraneous variable, operational definition, control, statistical significanc e.
To understand several statistical measures of central tendency and variability, correlation, and level of significance, and to be familiar with the normal curve.
4. To know how to use Psyclit and Psychological
Abstracts to locate psychological research reports.
5. To know how to use electronic mail, World Wide Web, and other Internet resources to enhance knowledge of psychology.
ASSIGNMENTS:
l. Read Chapters l & 2 and Appendix A in Rathus' Psychology .
2. In Psychlit, find an article published the month and year of your bi
rth. If you can't find the exact month, get as close as you can. Copy the abstract and bring it to class. Find the complete article in the bound copies of Psychological Abstracts, and browse through it. Report in class on title, author, date, journal
name, and general contents of the article.
3. Analyze several brief accounts of research on your own and in small groups in class (using class handouts).
4. Send a
n e-mail message as instructed in class.
5. Post a message to the Psych 110-H webpage as instructed in class.
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