A level: Module 1 - Introducing psychology

APPROACHES

Topics 10.1 Key Approaches and the Study of Psychology

10.2 The Biological Approach Aims psychology within social contexts;
 * 1) To introduce students to the scientific nature of psychology;
 * 2) to introduce students to key perspectives in psychology;
 * 3) to promote an appreciation of the historical development of
 * 1) to introduce students to the biological approach of psychology.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the topics, students should be able to
 * understand the scientific approach of psychology;
 * understand, in outline, the historical development of psychology;
 * understand key perspectives in psychology;
 * appreciate the biological approach to psychology.

10.1 Key Approaches and the Study of Psychology

10.1.1 What is Psychology? Psychology as the scientific study of behaviour and experience. The differences between scientific and common-sense explanations.

10.1.2 Key approaches and the development of psychology in an historical context. Wundt, Darwin, Freud, Skinner and Rogers: their key influences in the development of psychology. (A detailed knowledge of each person’s ideas/theories is not required.)

Understand the basic assumptions and the distinguishing features of the following approaches: psychodynamic, behaviourist, humanisticand cognitive (including the information-processing approach).

10.2 The Biological Approach 10.2.1 Genetic basis of behaviour Evolution and human behaviour. Difference between genotype and phenotype. 10.2.2 Physiological psychology Basic understanding of the structure and function of neurons – motor, sensory and connector (relay). The divisions of the nervous system. Localisation of function in the brain (cortical specialisation), including motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and ‘language’ centres. How areas of cortical specialisation have been identified (for example neurosurgery, EEGs, electrical stimulation, scans - CAT, PET and MRI). Sympathetic and parasympathetic actions of the autonomic nervous system. Adrenal glands and fight or flight response. 10.2.3 Inheritance and behaviour Types of twins: monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ). Use of twin studies, adoption studies and selective breeding to investigate the genetic basis of behaviour. Arguments for and against the genetic basis of schizophrenia or intelligence. Limitations of the biological approach.

RESEARCH METHODS

Topics 10.3 Methods of Research

10.4 Representing Data and Descriptive Statistics

10.5 Ethics

Aims: methods employed in psychological research;
 * 1) To promote a critical understanding of quantitative and qualitative
 * 1) to promote an understanding of the use of descriptive statistics;
 * 2) to demonstrate how data may be represented;
 * 3) to develop an awareness of ethical issues in psychological research.

Learning outcomes. Upon completion of the topics, students should be able to: appropriate uses; psychology.
 * describe quantitative and qualitative research methods and their
 * know how to represent and describe data;
 * understand ethical issues and codes of conduct for research in

10.3 Methods of Research

10.3.1 Planning Research Formulating research questions. Stating the aims of a piece of research. Formulating hypotheses (null, experimental, alternative, research).

Populations and sampling. Types of sampling techniques, including opportunity, random, stratified and systematic. 10.3.2 Methods of Investigation I Experiments: field and laboratory. Independent and dependent variables. Manipulation and control of variables in experiments. Experimental designs: repeated or related measures, matched pairs, independent groups. Controls associated with different designs, including counterbalancing. Confounding variables. Advantages and disadvantages of different experimental designs and appropriate use of each. Pilot studies and their value. Questionnaire construction including the use of open and closed questions. Types of interviews: structured and unstructured. Appropriate use of the above techniques. Correlation studies. The difference between an experiment and a correlational study. Strengths and weakness of these methods.

10.3.3 Methods of Investigation II
 * Observational studies. Observation in natural and experimental settings. Covert and overt. Distinction between participant and nonparticipant observation. Strengths and weaknesses of observational methods.


 * Case studies. The role of case studies in investigation. Strengths and weaknesses of case studies.The difference between qualitative and quantitative data.Strengths and weaknesses of these methods.

10.4 Representing Data and Descriptive Statistics 10.4.1 Representing data. Be able to use, as appropriate, the following tabular and graphical displays: bar charts, histograms, graphs, scattergrams and tables.

10.4.2 Descriptive data Calculate and understand the use of: mean, median, mode, range and standard deviation. Correlation as a description of the relationship between two variables. Understand positive, negative and zero correlations.

10.5 Ethics An awareness of the code of ethics in psychology as specified by theBritish Psychological Society.