Learning Objectives
OBJECTIVE 1.1 – Define psychology, explain reasons for studying it, and how psychology can
be both a science and a profession.
OBJECTIVE 1.1 – Define psychology, explain reasons for studying it, and how psychology can
be both a science and a profession.
OBJECTIVE 1.3 – Explain what empirical evidence is and give an example of it. Explain how
this search for empirical evidence set psychology apart from other fields of study and why
some topics in psychology are difficult to study.
OBJECTIVE 1.4 – Define the term critical thinking and describe its four basic principles.
OBJECTIVE 1.5 – Write a brief summary of each of the following areas of specialization in
psychology: a. developmental; b. learning; c. personality; d. sensation and perception; e.
comparative; f. biopsychology; g. cognitive; h. gender; i. social; j. cultural; and k.
evolutionary.
OBJECTIVE 1.6 – Explain why and how animals are used in research and define the term animal
model in your discussion. List a way in which psychological research may benefit animals.
OBJECTIVE 1.7 – List and explain the four goals of psychology and its ultimate goal, including
why the word control has a special meaning for psychologists which is distinct from the
everyday meaning of the word.
OBJECTIVE 1.8 – Use the following schools of psychology to answer the five questions below:
structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, psychodynamic school, and
humanism. a. its founder; b. reasons it was founded; c. its goal; d. its impact on modern
psychology; e. its possible value in psychotherapy.
OBJECTIVE 1.9 Describe the role of women in psychology’s early days and contrast it to today.
OBJECTIVE 1.10 – Briefly describe the five major perspectives in modern psychology; the two
newest fields of study, cognitive neuroscience and positive psychology; and explain what it
means to be eclectic.
OBJECTIVE 1.11 – Explain how understanding human diversity may help us better understand
ourselves and the behavior of others. Define the terms cultural relativity and norms.
OBJECTIVE 1.12 – Characterize the differences in training, emphasis and/or expertise among
psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, counselors, and psychiatric social workers.
Describe the roles of clinical and counseling psychologists, the largest areas of specialization
among psychologists, and their major sources of employment. Define the term "scientistpractitioner" model and list the three points in the professional code for psychologists
established by the APA.
OBJECTIVE 1.13 – Differentiate basic from applied research and explain the problem with
using common sense as a source of information. List and define the six steps of the scientific
method. Include the concepts of hypothesis, operational definition, and theory formulation.
Explain the importance of publication and describe the parts of a research report.
OBJECTIVE 1.14 – Describe the technique of naturalistic observation including its advantages
and disadvantages. Include the terms observer effect and observer bias. Explain what the
anthropomorphic fallacy is and how it can lead to problems in psychological research. Define
the term observation record.
OBJECTIVE 1.15 – Describe what a correlational study is and its advantages and disadvantages.
Explain what a correlation coefficient is, what it means, how it is expressed numerically and
as a graph, and how it does NOT show causation.
OBJECTIVE 1.16– List and describe the three variables in the experimental method. Explain the
nature and purpose of the control group and the experimental group and why subjects are
randomly assigned to the groups.
OBJECTIVE 1.17 – Explain what statistically significant results are, why the replication of
results is important, and the value of meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE 1.18 – Describe the single-blind and double-blind experimental approaches and
how they control for the placebo effect and the experimenter effect, respectively. Include the
concept of self-fulfilling prophecy.
OBJECTIVE 1.19 – Briefly describe the clinical method of research including when it is used and
its advantages and disadvantages.
OBJECTIVE 1.20 – Briefly describe the survey method of investigation including its advantages
and disadvantages, a definition of population and sample, and a discussion of courtesy bias,
gender bias, and internet surveys.
OBJECTIVE 1.21 – Indicate the foundations and fallacies of each of the following
pseudopsychologies: a. palmistry; b. phrenology; c. graphology; and d. astrology. Explain
why these pseudopsychologies continue to thrive even though they have no scientific basis.
OBJECTIVE 1.22 – List the suggestions that will help you become a more critical reader of
psychological information in the popular press.