Week 1

Psychology: A Scientific Endeavor of Many Faces

and the Nature of Research

This course targets that the students• understand the aims of scientific study

of psychology

• comprehend how work psychology has evolved over the last century

• be aware of the contribution that work psychology makes to organizations

• realize the importance of work psychology to individuals and groups

• show why it is essential for management

The modern definition of psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Table 1.1 The history of psychology and key theoretical approaches Source: Ashleigh, 2010

Table 1.1 The history of psychology and key theoretical approaches (Continued)

To examine all of these aspects of human behavior...

• biological perspective• sociological perspective• anthropological perspective• business perspective among others

Breadth of Content

Psychology covers a variety of topics:

1. The workings of the living brain:• metabolic activity gives clues about

brain /behavior relationships

True or False?• We use only 10% of our brain. Most of our

brain’s potential remains untapped.

• FALSE. Every part of the brain has a function, as evidenced by – behavior changes resulting from even minor brain

damage, – and whole-brain activity on normal brain scans

Breadth of Content continued

2. Memory:• Studied as a function, not "brain region"

• “Eyewitness” memory: window into complexity of topic

Breadth of Content, cont.

3. Innate CapacitiesAchievement through innate capacity

Achievement through experience• We remember what has happened and adapt

behavior accordingly

Breadth of Content continued

4. Social Behavior in Humans– Varied as compared to most animals– Flexible as compared to most animals– Strategic and careful, but also unconscious and

irrational• Changes when social behavior occurs around more

than one person (large groups, crowds)• Why does social behavior change so much under

different circumstances?

Breadth of Content continued

5. Work Psychology seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior in organizations.– Learning, motivation, personality,

emotions, perception– Training, leadership effectiveness,

job satisfaction– Decision making, performance

appraisal, attitude measurement– Employee selection, work design,

work stress

What Is That Unites Psychology?

Two themes give the field coherence:

– The TYPES of QUESTIONS psychologists ask

– The WAYS we ANSWER those questions

Types of Questions

Why do we do what we do?

Why do we think what we think?

Why do we feel what we feel?

Why do we perceive the way we do?

• Our senses cannot always be trusted.

• Our mind is the final arbiter of truth.

• So never take a decision based only on your observations.

• Think of what you saw and what you learned.

• Analyze the facts and then take the decision.

Ways of Answering: The Nature of Research in Psychology

• A set of procedures• Test beliefs systematically• Goal: reliable and valid information about the

world– Reject false claims– Preserve reliable and valid claims – those we

believe to be solidly established

The Scientific Method

• Steps of the procedure:– Formulate a hypothesis, or prediction

– Gather data that address the hypothesis• Use already existing observations (other peoples’

records, such as those from a hospital, government agency, school system, etc.)• Use systematically collected (random) sampling

Formulating a Testable Hypothesis

• Dependent Variable: the variable of interest; defined clearly & easily measurable– Percent of correct answers on an exam– Seconds needed to complete a task

• Independent Variable: the factor whose effects we wish to examine– Geographic origin– Age– Gender

The Scientific Method, cont.

• Was the hypothesis supported?

• Did the experiment turn out the way you predicted – the way you “hypothesized”?– If so, hypothesis is CONFIRMED (NOT “PROVEN”)

The Scientific Method, cont.

If facts are inconsistent with that prediction, prediction (hypothesis) may be wrong – If so, hypothesis is said to be DISCONFIRMED

or

Look carefully: was an important detail overlooked?