Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology

© 2015 of 97 Cognitive Perspective The cognitive perspective, embodied by the subfield of cognitive psychology, views humans as information processors who think, judge, and solve problems. Cognitive neuroscience examines brain processes that occur as people perform mental tasks. This perspective views the human as a thinker, studying a person’s thoughts, anticipations, planning, perceptions, attention, and memory processes. Sociocultural Perspective The sociocultural perspective examines how the social environment and cultural learning influence our behavior and thoughts. Cultural psychologists study how culture is transmitted to members of society and examine similarities and differences among people from various cultures. This perspective studies the human as a social being embedded in a culture, and assesses social forces, including norms, social interactions, and group processes in one’s culture and social environment. 1.3 Research Methods Because psychology is a science, information about human behavior is collected in systematic, objective, and replicable ways - primarily through experimental and correlation studies. Whenever possible, scientists prefer to test their understanding of “what causes what” more directly. If we truly understand the causes of a given behavior, then we should be able to predict the conditions under which that behavior will occur in the future. Furthermore, if we can control those conditions, then we should be able to produce that behavior. Psychologists conduct research to gather evidence about behavior and its causes. The research method chosen depends on the problem being studied, the investigator’s objectives, and ethical principles. Case Study A case study is an in-depth analysis of an individual, a group, or event. By studying a single case in detail, researchers typically hope to discover principles that hold true for people or situations in general. Data may be gathered through observation, interviews, psychological tests, physiological recordings, or task performance. Case studies have several advantages and disadvantages: Advantages: • When a rare phenomenon occurs, this method enables scientists to study it closely. • A case study may challenge the validity of a theory or scientific belief. • A case study can be a source of new ideas that may be examined using other research methods. Achieve Page 9