LESSON 1

Introduction
to
Psychology
ARNEL A. DIEGO
Psychology?
 Definition of psychology
Psyche mind or soul
Logos study / study of

THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF

HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND
MENTAL PROCESSES
PSYCHOLOGY IS SCIENCE
BECAUSE..

It is systematic and factual.

It is different from
PSEUDOPSYCHOLOGY and
therefore should not be confused
for it
 What is
pseudopsychology
Also known as false psychology
or commonsense psychology.
It relies on intuition, guesses, or
mysterious explanations
Examples: Palmistry , Astrology,
Numerology, Phrenology,
Graphology
PALMISTRY palm reading.

ASTROLOGY positions of the stars and

planets influence peoples personalities and
affairs.

NUMEROLOGY the influence of numbers

on human affairs.

GRAPHOLOGY hand writing analysis.

PHRENOLOGY a now abandoned study of

the shape of the skull.
 Definition of behavior
Anything a person does or
experience, including the
biological processes that keep the
body functioning
 Types of behavior

Overt vs. Covert

Observable vs. unobservable

Voluntary vs. Involuntary

Intentional vs. unintentional/beyond ones
control

Conscious vs. Unconscious

Awareness vs. unawareness
 Verbal vs. Non-verbal
Use of words vs. use of gestures, postures,
facial expressions and vocal tones

Normal vs. Abnormal

Rational, logical and constructive vs.
irrational, illogical and destructive(to oneself
or others)

Note: Abnormality is a relative thing. It is

relative to ones culture.

All types of behaviours are studied by

psychologist.
 Goals of psychology

1. To describe human behavior.

2. To understand human behavior

3. To predict human behavior

4. To control human behavior

 History of psychology

Psychology has roots in three areas:

1. Philosophy gave the question What is man?

John Locke the human mind at birth is a tabula

rasa (blank sheet)

Rene Descartes presence of animal spirits,

which are at present as neural impulses that
explains our reflex behavior/action
2. Physiology provided the empirical tools in
the study of behavior

3. Establishment of the first psychological

laboratory by Wilhelm Wundt at the University
of Leipzig, Germany in 1879; this marked the
beginning of Psychology as a science.
 Schools of psychology
School of Pioneers Focus of Study Techniques
Psychology
Structuralism Wilhelm Wundt The structure of the mind. Objective Introspection
sensation and subjective feeling
Functionalism William James The function of the mind in the Introspection
adjustment of the man to his
environment (ex how habits help us to
cope with common situation) Conscious
experience and behavior
Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud The unconscious mind Free
association and
Dream
Analysis
Behaviorism John B. Watson Observable behavior / conscious Observation /
and B. F. Skinner experience Experimentatio
Stimulus response (S-R) approach n
The use of reinforcement
Gestalt Max Wertheimer Configuration, organization or overall Experimentatio
Psychology Kurt Koffka pattern of experience n
Wolfgang Kohler
Cognitive Jean Piaget Concerned with mental processes. Information
Psychology (How we learn, remember the past etc) processing
approach
Psychobiology Johannes Mufler Biological Influences on behavior Brain scan
Humanistic / Carl Rogers Focuses ob subjective experiences of Interview
 References:

Feldman, Robert S. (2008). Understanding Psychology (5 th

edition).
Mc Graw Hill International

Panlaqui, Asuncion & Diego (2013). Psychology: Understanding

the Self.
HisGoPhil Inc.

Jackson Sherri L. (2008). Research Methods: A Modular

Approach.
Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.

Myers, Anne & Hansen, Cristine (2006). Experimental Psychology

(6th edition). Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.
 Thank you.

SUCCESS IS NOT FINAL, FAILURE IS NOT

FATAL, IT IS THE COURAGE TO CONTINUE
THAT COUNTS- Wilson Churchill
 LESSON 2
BRANCHES OF
PSYCHOLOGY
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
- study of abnormal behaviours

BIO PSYCHOLOGY
- focuses on the study on how the
brain influences our behaviour

COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
- the study of internal state
COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
- The study of animal behaviour

DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY
- The scientific study of human
development

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
- branch of Psychology concerned with
schools, teaching psychology, educational
issues and students concerns.
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
- focuses on issues related to law
and psychology
COUNSELING
PSYCHOLOGY
- Focus primarily on educational, social
and career adjustment.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
- How peoples thoughts, feelings and
actions are affected by others
INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATIONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
- Concerned with the psychology of
the workplace.

SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY
- The application of psychology to athletic
activity and exercise.
 LESSON 3
METHODS OF
PSYCHOLOGY
 Scientific methods
- Approach by which psychologist systematically
acquire knowledge and understanding about
behaviour and phenomenon of interest
IDENTIFY THE FORMULATE AN EXPLANATION
QUESTION OF INTEREST Specific Theory
- Behavior
- Prior research findings
- Curiosity Develop Hypothesis

- CARRY OUT
RESEARCH
- COMMUNICATE - Operationalize hypothesis
- FINDINGS - Select a research method
- - Collect the data
- - Analyze the data
METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH - Describes
data and characteristics about the
population or phenomenon being studied.

These includes the following:

 1. Naturalistic
observation
Observing events or incidents
completely in their natural
settings.
 2. Documentary Analysis

- A social research method and is an

important research tool in its own
right and is an invaluable part of
most schemes of triangulation.

- Sources of Documents are the

following: public records, the
media, private papers, biography
and visual documents
 3. Surveys

A useful way of obtaining data about peoples

opinions, attitudes, preferences, and
experiences that are hard to observe directly.

Useful for collecting data on sensitive topics,

making inferences about behaviour and can
gather large amounts of data efficiently.
Types of survey questions

1. Open-ended questions Questions for

which participants formulate their own
responses.
2. Close-ended questions Questions for
which participants choose from a limited
number of alternatives.
3. Partially open ended questions
Closed-ended questions with an open
ended other options.
4. Rating scale A numerical scale on
which survey respondents indicate the
direction and strength of their response.
Administering the survey:

1.Mail surveys written surveys that are

self administered. They can be sent
through the traditional mail system or by
email.
2.Telephone surveys a survey in which
the questions are read to participants over
the phone.
3.Personal Interviews a survey in which
the question is asked face to face.
 4. Case Studies

A descriptive record of a single individuals

experience or behavior kept by an outside
observer.
Provide in-depth information about a limited
number of subjects, and may produce new
insights that generate additional studies.
 5 Developmental Studies
- Assess changes over an extended period
of time.

Methods / types of developmental research

Longitudinal - Assess changes over an

extended period of time by looking at the same
groups of subjects for months or even years.

Cross-Sectional Assess changes across time

by comparing groups of subjects already at
different stages at a single point in time.
 6. Correlational Research
- Assess the degree of relationship between two
traits, behaviors and events

Three possible results of a correlational study:

Positive Correlations: Both variables increase or

decrease at the same time. A correlation coefficient
close to +1.00 indicates a strong positive correlation.
Negative Correlations: Indicates that as the
amount of one variable increases, the other
decreases (and vice versa). A correlation coefficient
close to -1.00 indicates a strong negative correlation.
No Correlation: Indicates no relationship
between the two variables. A correlation coefficient
of 0 indicates no correlation.
7. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
A research method that allows a researcher to
establish a cause and effect relationship through
manipulation of a variable and control of the
situation

Three aspects of the experimental method that play biggest

part in determining the design;

1.The number of independent variable.

2.The number of treatment condition.
3.Whether the same or different subjects are used in
each of the treatment condition.
 3 approaches

A. ONE GROUP METHOD single variable

added to or subtracted from a group

B. PARALLEL GROUP A control and

experimental group are selected

C. ROTATION two or more group are used

 Independent variable The variable in a study that is
manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent variable The variable in a study that is

measured by the researcher.

Control group The group of participants who do not

receive any level of the independent variable and serve
as the baseline of the study.

Experimental group The group of participants who

receive some level of the independent variable.

Random assignments Assigning the participants to

conditions in such way that each has the same
probability as all others of being placed in any condition.
Identify the IV and DV

1.Taking Vitamin C helps increase our bodys

immune system and prevent certain diseases.
2.Watching violent movies increases child
aggressiveness.
3.Too much exposure to cellular phone
radiation can cause brain cancer.
4.Reward system increases students
participation in class.
5.Children who experienced verbal abuses
frequently shown suicidal tendencies,
compare to children who experienced physical
abuses.
 DATA COLLECTION
METHOD
1. Observation - Observation method is a technique in which
the behavior of research subjects is watched and recorded
without any direct contact.

Naturalistic Observation Technique of observation as they

occurs spontaneously in natural settings.

Options in using observation

- Undisguised observation Studies in which the
participants are aware that the researcher is observing
their behaviour.
- Nonparticipant observation Studies in which the
researcher does not participate in the situation in which the
research participants is involved.
 Disguised observation Studies in which the
participants are unaware that the researcher is
observing theri behaviour.

Participant observation Studies in which the

researcher actively participates in the situation
in which the research participants is involved.

Systematic observation A system for

recording observations; each observation is
recorded using specific rules or guidelines, so
observations are more objective.
2. Questionnares

Types of questionnaires:
Open-ended questions Questions for which
participants formulate their own responses.
Close-ended questions Questions for which
participants choose from a limited number of
alternatives.
Partially open ended questions Closed-
ended questions with an open ended other
options.
Rating scale A numerical scale on which
survey respondents indicate the direction and
strength of their response.
 3. Interviews - Methods in which you asked
the respondents face to face, may be
conducted anywhere or a methods in which
you asked the respondents thru mail, email
or telephone interviews.

4. Administration of psychological tests

Psychological Testing - Is a field
characterized by the use of samples of
behavior in order to assess psychological
constructs, such as cognitive and emotional
functioning, about a given individual.
Psychological Test - Test is an instrument
designed to measure unobserved constructs
Broad categories of psychological tests:

IQ
achievement tests
Aptitude tests
Neuropsychological tests
Personality tests
Intelligence test

Stimulus Mask

Question: Long side on left or right?

1. Marys mother has 5 children namely Nana,
Nene, Nini, Nono... What is the name of the 5th
child?

2. _______ is to land as navy is to _____________

3. _______ is to physician as secretary is to _______

4. How many months have 28 days?

5. Narrative Records

Full narrative descriptions of a participants

behavior.

Capture completely everything the participant

said or did during the period of time

6. Checklist A tally sheet on which the

researcher records attributes of the
participants and whether particular behaviors
were observed
 THANK YOU..

LIFE IS LIKE A COIN. YOU CAN

SPEND IT ANY WAY YOU
WISH, BUT YOU ONLY SPEND
IT ONCE
 References:

Feldman, Robert S. (2008). Understanding Psychology (5 th

edition).
Mc Graw Hill International

Panlaqui, Asuncion & Diego (2013). Psychology: Understanding

the Self.
HisGoPhil Inc.

Jackson Sherri L. (2008). Research Methods: A Modular

Approach.
Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.

Myers, Anne & Hansen, Cristine (2006). Experimental Psychology

(6th edition). Thomson Wadsworth Corporation.