Book Notes and lecture Notes from Chapter 1, Introduction to Psychology, Dennis Coon, Tenth Edition

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Karin Bean, Notes Chapter 1

The word Psychology

Comes form the roots psyche (means mind) and logos (means study of or knowledge)

Psychology

Is the science of behavior and mental processes. Psychologists gather scientific data in order to describe, understand, predict, and control behavior.

Is a science and a profession

Uses the scientific method to study behavior

Psychologists

are professionals who create and apply psychological knowledge

can be scientist, teachers, or apply it in education, business, sports, law, and medicine

The Scientific Method

is a powerful way to observe the natural world and draw valid conclusions

Psychological Research

Begins with observations, questions, and hypotheses. Next, researchers gather evidence, test hypotheses, and publish results. scientific debate and theories suggest new hypotheses which lead to further research

Experiments

Are the best way to identify cause-and-effect relationships in psychology

Critical Thinking

is central to the scientific method, to psychology, and to effective behavior in general

Television Magazines And Other Popular Media

Are rife with inaccurate information.

It is essential to critically evaluate information from popular sources or from any source for that matter

Psychological Researchers

Make every effort to maintain high ethical standards in their work.

Behavior

Is anything you do eating, sleeping, talking, or sneezing? Dreaming, gambling, watching TV, sports,reading.

Overt Behaviors

Are observable actions and responses

Covert behaviors

Are private internal activities, (responses) such as thinking remembering and other mental events hidden from view

EMPIRICISM-Empirical evidence

Facts or Information gained from direct observation or experience

True scientific observation

Is structured to answer questions about the world

Research method A systematic approach to answering scientific questions

Critical Thinking

An ability to evaluate, compare, analyze , critique e , and synthesize information

Critical thinkers analyze the evidence supporting their beliefs, they question assumptions, and they look for alternative conclusions.

Principles for Critical Thinking...