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AP Psychology Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Jul 2, 2024

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AP Psychology Unit 1 Review: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Introduction

  • Presenter: Mr. Sin
  • Main Focus: Unit 1 - Scientific Foundations of Psychology
  • Resources: Study guide in the ultimate review packet
    • Includes unit review videos, practice quizzes, study guides, answer keys, full practice AP exams

Key Topics and Contributors in Psychology

Early Contributors

  • William Wundt: Father of psychology, first psychology laboratory, studied senses, reaction time, attention spans, emotions
    • Edward Titchener: Student of Wundt, created structuralism
  • William James: Taught psychology at Harvard, first psychology textbook, created functionalism, promoted women in psychology (e.g., Mary Whitten Calkins)
  • Stanley Hall: First American PhD in psychology, first US psychology lab, first APA president
  • Mary Whitten Calkins: Memory research, first female APA president
  • Margaret Floyd Washburn: Animal research, first woman to earn a psychology degree, second female APA president

Theoretical Approaches

  • Functionalism vs. Structuralism:
    • Structuralism: Focus on different structures of consciousness, uses introspection
    • Functionalism: View mental and behavioral processes as evolved functions working together
  • Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic: Influences of unconscious mind, conflicts between ego, id, and superego, uses free association
  • Behavioralism: Behaviors are learned and observable; includes reflexive (classical) and operant conditioning
  • Humanistic: Humans are naturally good, seek self-actualization
  • Sociocultural: Impact of culture, nationality, religion, gender, social norms on behavior

Notable Figures

  • Charles Darwin: Natural selection, evolutionary psychology
  • Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalytic theory
  • Ivan Pavlon: Classical conditioning (dog digestion experiment)
  • John Piaget: Cognitive development theory
  • Carl Rogers: Humanistic psychology founder
  • BF Skinner: Operant conditioning
  • John B. Watson: Behaviorism founder

Research Methods in Psychology

Design and Sampling

  • Operational Definitions: Procedure descriptions for experiments, ensure replicability
  • Population and Sample: Population is entire group; sample is a selected group representing the population
    • Random Sample: Equal chance for all individuals in population
    • Stratified Sample: Population divided into subcategories, random sample from each
  • Sampling Bias: Non-representative sample skews results
  • Representative Sample: Properly represented group for results to apply to larger population

Research Methods

  • Experiments: Controlled conditions; study relationship between independent and dependent variables, show cause and effect
  • Correlational Studies: Predict relationships between variables, show strength and direction of relationship
  • Surveys: Self-reported data, opinions, thoughts
  • Naturalistic Observations: Real-world setting observations
  • Case Studies: Analysis of rare behaviors
  • Longitudinal Studies: Follow a group over a long period
  • Cross-Sectional Studies: Compare different groups at the same time
  • Quasi-Experiments: Used when controlled experiments are unethical or impossible

Variables and Biases in Research

  • Independent Variable (IV): Cause
  • Dependent Variable (DV): Effect
  • Confounding Variables: Other variables affecting DV
  • Random Assignment: Equal chance for participants in control/experimental groups
  • Single/Double Blind Studies: Minimize placebo effect

Types of Bias

  • Hindsight Bias: Belief that one could have predicted an outcome
  • False Consensus Effect: Overestimating how many share one's opinions
  • Confirmation Bias: Focusing on information that confirms personal viewpoint
  • Experimenter/Researcher Bias: Unintentional influence by researcher
  • Social Desirability/Participant Bias: Participants change answers to appear favorable
  • Hawthorne Effect: Participants alter behavior because they know they are being observed

Statistical Analysis

  • Descriptive Statistics: Organize and describe data
  • Inferential Statistics: Make predictions about data, apply results to population
  • Central Tendency: Mean (average), median (middle), mode (most frequent)
  • Variability: Range (difference between highest and lowest), Standard Deviation (average distance from mean)
  • Distributions: Normal (bell-shaped curve), skewed (positive/negative), bimodal
  • Z-Scores: Compare scores that are not the same
  • Percentile Rank: Percentage of scores at or below a particular score
  • Correlation Coefficient: Closer to 1 (positive or negative) indicates stronger relationship
  • Scatter Plots: Visual representation of relationships between variables

Ethical Guidelines

  • APA and IRB Standards: Ensure ethical conduct in studies, protect participants
    • Informed Consent: Participants must be given adequate information to make informed decisions
    • Confidentiality: Participants' information must be kept private
  • Protection Guidelines: Minimize risk, ensure physical and psychological safety
    • Stanford Prison Experiment: Example of failure to protect participants
  • Animal Research Oversight: IACUC ensures ethical treatment of animals in research

Conclusion

  • Check answers to study guide
  • Take unit practice quiz in the ultimate review packet
  • Visit Mr. Sin's channel for more video reviews of AP Psychology

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