Psychology had to face many problems as a young science since no one had explored this area of science yet there was no guidelines to follow or rules to go by. Wilhelm Wundt first created this new science in Germany in 1879 by testing the time it took for people to be aware of a all hitting the ground and their reaction time to the sound. And as Psychology entered the scientific world it was broke down into two main branches structuralism and functionalism. Structuralism was mainly focused on how the brain was setup and how two different parts of the brain interacted with each other and what outcome they would give. Functionalism was focused on how each part had its function and what each part of the brains function is.
This article http://hotbookworm.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/psychology-as-a-young-science/ compares and contrasts the two ideas of structuralism and functionalism, this article also talks about Wilhelm Wundt as the first psychologist.
This cartoon strip shows how the theory of functionalism and describes that functionalist look at how something occurs not where it occurs.
This article http://hotbookworm.wordpress.com/2010/07/15/psychology-as-a-young-science/ compares and contrasts the two ideas of structuralism and functionalism, this article also talks about Wilhelm Wundt as the first psychologist.
This cartoon strip shows how the theory of functionalism and describes that functionalist look at how something occurs not where it occurs.
The four schools of thought are Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, and Humanistic Psychology. Structuralism is the study of the elements of psychology. Structuralism was founded by Edward Titchener. The technique of introspection was developed there. It required people to describe their thoughts and perspectives when showed a certain object. Functionalism focuses on the purpose of consciousness and thought. Functionalism developed from the downfall of structuralism. Psychologist inferred that people’s behaviors developed because of evolution. It was meant to be because it helped the people of the past survive. Behaviorism is the study of observable behavior. John B. Watson founded this school of thought and dramatically changed the field of Psychology. He said that in order to make accurate assumptions that you needed to see tangible observations to how people reacted to specific situations. Humanistic Psychology attempts to see how much environmental influence could nurture or limit a person’s growth. The fundamental belief is that people are innately good and that mental and social problems result from deviations from this natural tendency.
This website http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/schoolsthought.htm has the four schools of thought described and talk about throught the piece.
This image is the pyramid of Humanistic Psychology that shows what people need and strive for and you have to have whats on the bottom before you can have whats on the top.
A scientific theory is formed from a hypotheses and a hypotheses is derived from the scientific method. In the scientific method you ask a question about something in the world, then do some background research about your question. Then you form a hypotheses, after doing so you test your hypotheses by doing an experiment. Then you analyze your data and draw a conclusion, finally you communicate your results for others to test. The hypotheses is then tested repeatedly and if its confirmed through observation and experimentation many times it is then classified as a scientific theory.
This image shows the cycle of the scientific theory and how it repeats its self to make its self better. The cycle goes around from prediction to experimentation to observation and back around.
This video explains the scientific theory and how if you create a theory it may have gaps that are yet to be filled in, but by following the theory you will eventually fill in these spaces.
Observations are a important part of psychology. In order for psychologists to understand human behavior they must first observe it. Who ever is directing the observation, in a controlled environment must be able to make the variable change. He or she must not be biased. They can not be biased because of the observation and the may be affected by the expectations of the observer. If the experiment is in a natural environment and there is no variable controlled by the observer then the observer can not, under any circumstances interfere with the person or persons being observed. If interfered with, the observation is invalid.
This website http://deanmcdonnell.hubpages.com/hub/reliableandvalid-dmd explains issues regarding reliable and valid research studies.
This image is a metaphor for the reliability has in experiments. On the left dead center and consistent is reliable and valid. In the middle the shots are reliable, but not in the middle so they are not valid. Finally on the right the shots aren't reliable or valid, because they aren't consistent or in the center.
Correlational research is used to detect naturally occurring relationships to asses how one variable predicts the other. This is done by collecting data on two or more variables. Experimental research is conducted to explore cause and effect. It is done by manipulating one or more factors and uses random assignment. There are some distinct differences in the two methods. The greatest is manipulation, in correlational research there is not manipulation at all, whereas in experimental research it is manipulation. The bad parts of correlational research is that you are not able to establish cause and effect. Experiments can be conducted to establish the cause and effect of what was observed in the correlational study.
This website http://courses.ttu.edu/isqs5349-westfall/images/5349/association_and_causation.htm explains the association and prediction to causation.
This book https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/causation-prediction-and-search that you can find is titled, Causation, Prediction, and Search, second edition, gives much information about experiments and what correlation is involved.
A negative correlation has a coefficient of 0 to -1, the negative correlation relationship states that when one variable goes down the other variable also goes down, and when one variable goes up so does the other variable. A positive correlation has a coefficient of 0 to +1, the positive correlation relationship states when one variable goes up the other variable goes down, so they both go in opposite directions. Zero represented by 0, has a lack of correlation there is no correlation at all between the two variables.
This image shows positive correlation first, then negative correlation, and finally zero correlation at all. The line represents the slope of the correlation and helps you predict what the second variable would be if you have one variable already.
This comic strip shows a example of positive correlation in the work place, saying that if the boss would trust him more he would do better in the work place.
Independent and dependent variables are what is changed in an experiment. The independent variable is the variable that the experimenter controls and changes. The dependent variable is the variable that changes only because the independent variable was changed. For example a scientist studies the impact of a drug on cancer. The independent variables are the administration of the drug, the dosage and the timing. The dependent variable is the impact the drug has on cancer.
This document http://www2.uncp.edu/home/collierw/ivdv.htm gives well and extensive examples of independent variables and independent variables.
This image below illustrates that the lollipops are the independent variable and the man is the dependent variable because he is dependent on the lollipops for the change of his physical appearance.