AP Psychology Unit 1 Review: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Introduction

• Instructor: Mr. Sin
• Resources:
  • Study guide available in the Ultimate Review Packet.
  • Packet includes videos, practice quizzes, study guides, answer keys, and full practice AP exams.

Key Figures in Psychology

• William Wundt:
  • Father of psychology, first psychology lab.
  • Focused on senses, reaction time, attention spans, emotions.
• Edward Titchener:
  • Student of Wundt, developed structuralism.
• William James:
  • Taught first psychology course at Harvard.
  • Wrote first psychology textbook, functionalism.
  • Encouraged women in psychology.
• Mary Witten Calkins:
  • Contributions to memory research.
  • First female president of APA.
• Stanley Hall:
  • First American to earn PhD in psychology.
  • Opened first US psychology lab.
  • First APA president.
• Margaret Floy Washburn:
  • Contributions to animal research.
  • First woman to earn psychology degree.
• Charles Darwin:
  • Natural selection theory, evolutionary psychology.
• Dorothea Dix:
  • Mental health reform.
• Sigmund Freud:
  • Psychoanalytic theory, unconscious mind.
• Ivan Pavlov:
  • Classical conditioning (dog digestion experiment).
• Jean Piaget:
  • Systematic study of cognitive development in children.
• Carl Rogers:
  • Founder of humanistic psychology.
• B.F. Skinner:
  • Operant conditioning, behaviorism.
• John B. Watson:
  • Behaviorism, focused on observable study.

Schools of Thought

• Structuralism:
  • Focus on structures of consciousness.
  • Uses introspection.
• Functionalism:
  • Understand mental/behavioral processes as evolved functions.
• Gestalt Psychology:
  • Focus on whole consciousness.
  • Studies perception, sensation, learning, problem-solving.
• Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic:
  • Unconscious mind, ego, id, superego.
  • Uses free association.

Modern Perspectives

• Behavioralism:
  • Behaviors learned through experiences.
  • Classical and operant conditioning.
• Humanistic:
  • Humans seek self-actualization through free will.
• Sociocultural:
  • Impact of culture, nationalism, gender on behavior.
• Evolutionary:
  • Behaviors shaped by natural selection.
• Biological:
  • Brain and nervous system structures.
• Cognitive:
  • Attitudes, memories, perceptions, processing information.

Domains of Psychology

• Basic Research:
  • Biological, developmental, cognitive, educational, personality, social, positive, psychometric.
• Applied Research:
  • Industrial/organizational, counseling, clinical.

Research Methods

• Operational Definition:
  • Description of procedures for observation and measurement.
• Sampling:
  • Population vs. Sample.
  • Random and stratified sampling.
• Research Methods:
  • Experiments: Controlled observations of variables.
  • Correlational Studies: Predict relationships between variables.
  • Surveys: Collect self-reported data.
  • Naturalistic Observations: Observe in real-world settings.
  • Case Studies: Detailed qualitative analysis.
  • Longitudinal Studies: Follow subjects over time.
  • Cross-sectional Studies: Compare different groups.
• Bias Prevention:
  • Random assignment, single/double-blind studies.
  • Ethical guidelines.

Statistical Analysis

• Data Types: Quantitative and qualitative.
• Statistics:
  • Descriptive Statistics: Organize/describe data.
  • Inferential Statistics: Make predictions from data.
• Central Tendency and Variability:
  • Mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation.
• Probability Value: Statistical significance.
• Distribution: Normal, positive/negative skew, bimodal.
• Correlation: Positive/negative/inverse relationships.

Ethical Guidelines

• APA Guidelines: Ethical standards for research.
• Informed Consent: Adequate information for participants.
• IRB and IACUC: Review boards for human/animal protection.

Conclusion

• Complete study guide and practice quiz for full understanding.
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