INSTRUCTORS MANUAL - (Lecture Notes Only) Prepared by Caro lyn Ensle...

i

INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL

(Lecture Notes Only) Prepared by Caro lyn Ensley for Mark Krause Daniel Corts Stephen Smith Dan Dolderman An Introduction to Psychological Science 1st Edition (Canadian Edition ) 1 / 4

Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc.1

1/ INTRODUCING PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

To access the resource listed, click on the hot linked title or press CTRL + click To return to the Table of Contents, click on click on ▲Return to Table of Contents

MODULE 1.1: The Science of Psychology

Lecture Guide: The Science of Psychology (p. 2)

Resources Available (p. 7)

MODULE 1.2: How Psychology Became a Science

Lecture Guide: How Psychology Became a Science (p. 8)

Resources Available (p. 16)

WORK THE SCIENTIFIC LITERACY MODEL

MyPsychLab Video Series (p. 45)

FULL CHAPTER RES OURCES

Lecture Launchers and Discussion Topics (p. 23) Classroom Activities, Demonstrations, and Exercises (p. 31) Handout Masters (p. 36)

APS: Readings from the Association of Psychological Science (p. 39)

Forty Studies that Changed Psychology (p. 41) Web Resources (p. 42) Video Resources (p. 45) Multimedia Resources (p. 49) 2 / 4

IRM for Krause/Corts/Smith/Dolderman, An Introduction to Psychological Science Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc.2

LECTURE GUIDE

I.MODULE 1.1: THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY (T

ext p. 3) ▲Return to Table of Contents Learning Objectives Know the key terminology of the scientific method m odule.

• See bold, italicized term

s below.Understand the steps of the scientific method.

• The basic model is in figure 1.1. Basically

, scientific theories generate hypotheses. If a hypothesis is confirmed, new hypotheses may stem from in, and the original theory receives added support. If a hypothesis is rejected, the original hypothesis may be modified and retested, or the original theory may be modified or rejected.Understand the concept of scientific literacy .

• Scientific literacy refers to the process of how we thinking about an

d understand scientific information (figure 1.3). Working the model involves answering a set of questions: What do we know about the phenomenon ?How can science explain it?Can we critically evaluate the evidence?Why is this re levant?Apply the bi opsychosocial m odel to behaviour.

o Psychologists examine behaviour through three main perspectives: biolog

ical (e.g., brain and genetics), psychological (e.g., thinking, learning, and emotion), and sociocultural (e.g., family, gender, and social context).Apply the steps in critical thinking.

• It is important learn how to use and apply these steps, versus just memorizing them

.Remember, critical thinking involves (1) being curious, (2) examining evidence, (3) examining assumptions and biases, (4) avoiding emotional thinking, (5) tolerating ambiguity, and (6) considering alternativ e viewpoints.Analyze the use of the term scientific theory .

• The term theory is often used interchangeably with opinion in casu

al talk, but not in science. A scientific theory is an explanation for a broad range of observations, integrating numerous findings into a coherent whole.1) Many of students’ assumptions will be challenged in this course .

i) Many people envision ps

ychologists in lab coats watching rats run through mazes.ii) Others assum ptions are based on “pop” psychology (e.g., self-help gurus on TV, books, et c.).2) Psy chology is a collection of disciplines, composed of many overlapping fields of study. Tw

• qualities

allow us to group these fields into one category:

i) Psychology involves the study of behaviour, including perceptions, thoughts, and em

otions.ii) Psy chologists use the scientific method in their work .Psychology (p. 3) is the sci entific study of behaviour, thought, and experience and how they can be affected by physical, mental, social and environmental factors.. 3 / 4

Chapter 1: Introducing Psychological Science

Copyright © 2015 Pearson Canada Inc.3 The Scientific Method

1) A field of study is considered a science based on the use of the scientific method.

i) This involves a dynamic interaction between hypothesis testing and the construction of theories

(figure 1.1).

Scientific Method (p. 3) is a way of learning about the world through collecting observations, developing theories to explain them, and using the theories to make predictions.

Hypotheses: Making Predictions

1) Scientific thinking and procedures revolve around the concepts of hypothesis and theory.

Hypothesis (p. 3) (plural: hypotheses) is a testable prediction about processes that can be observed and measured.

2) A scientific hypothesis must be testable.

i) It is either confirmed or rejected; we do not prove hypotheses.

ii) A good scientific hypothesis is stated in precise, and publicly relevant, terms.

a) For example, “People become less likely to help a stranger if there are others around”, or

“Exercise improves memory ability.”

b) Each of those hypotheses can be confirmed or rejected through scientific testing.

3) These rules are often broken by those claiming to be scientific, such as astrologers and psychics.

i) Their “hypothesis” or prediction might be something like, “It’s a good time for you to keep quiet or

defer important calls or emails.”

a) This cannot be tested scientifically. Instead, this is a very general prediction that people can find

some truth in by the end of the day.

Pseudoscience (p. 4) refers to ideas that are presented as science but do not actually utilize basic principles of scientific thinking or procedure.

Theories: Explaining Phenomena

1) Hypotheses are a major component of scientific theories.

i) Hypothesis testing eventually leads back to the theory form which it was based (figure 1.1).

Theory (p. 4) is an explanation for a broad range of observations that also generates new hypotheses and integrates numerous findings into a coherent whole.

2) Theories are built from hypotheses that are repeatedly tested and confirmed.

i) Good theories eventually become accepted explanations of behaviour.

3) Similar to hypotheses, scientific theories must also be able to be proven false with new evidence.

i) Any scientific theory must be falsifiable.

• “All swans are white” is a falsifiable statement. A swan that is not colored white will falsify it.

ii) Theories can be updated with new information, which helps to ensure that science is self-correcting and that bad ideas do not last long in science (figure 1.1).

4) The term theory is often used one way in casual talk and another in science. To be clear:

i) Theories are not the same thing as opinions.

• “That’s just your theory” is something you might say to a friend, but it’s not something scientists

say.

• / 4