Psy211 worksheet

University of Phoenix Material

Introduction to Psychology Worksheet

Complete each part with 100- to 200-word responses. Your responses must total 500 to 800-words for the entire worksheet.

Part I: Origins of Psychology

Within psychology, several perspectives are used to describe, predict, and explain human behavior. Describe three major psychological perspectives and name at least one leading theorist for each.

The first major psychological perspective is structuralism. Structuralism being the first school of thought in psychology. Structuralism - early school of psychology that emphasized studying the most basic components, or structures, of conscious experiences. The person responsible for structuralism is Edward B. Titchener. Structuralism relied heavily on introspection. Introspection was limited. So after the death of Titchener, this perspective died out as well.
The second perspective is functionalism. Functionalism – early school of psychology that emphasized studying the purpose, or function of behavior and mental experiences. Functionalism was birthed through William James after he read one of Wundt’s articles on psychology.
The third perspective is behaviorism. Behaviorism – school of psychology and theoretical viewpoint that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors, especially as they pertain to the process of learning. John B. Watson is one of 3 key scientist in the development of behaviorism. He founded the school of behaviorism.

Part II: Research Methods

Provide a brief overview of some research methods used by psychologists. Include strengths and weaknesses of each method.

One of the research methods is naturalistic observation. It is the systematic observation and recording of behaviors as they occur in their natural setting. The researchers engaged in naturalistic observation try to avoid being detected by their subjects, whether people or nonhuman animals. The basic goal of naturalistic observation is to detect the behavior patterns that exist naturally—patterns that might not be apparent in a laboratory or if the subjects knew they were being watched.
Another research method is case study. It is an intensive study of a single individual or small group of individuals. Case studies involve compiling a great deal of information from numerous sources to construct a detailed picture of the person. The individual may be extensively interviewed, and his or her friends, family, and coworkers may be interviewed as well.
The last research method that will be discussed is surveying. In a survey, people respond to a structured set of questions about their experiences, beliefs, behaviors, or attitudes. One key advantage offered by survey research is that information can be gathered from a much larger group of people than is possible with other research methods.

Part III: Ethics in Research

Describe two ethical issues related to research. Why is informed consent necessary for ethical research?

The first ethical issue related to research is Informed consent and voluntary participation. The psychologist must inform the participants of the purpose of the research, including significant factors that might influence a person’s willingness to participate in the study, such as potential risks, discomfort, or unpleasant emotional experiences. The psychologist must also explain that participants are free to decline to participate or to withdraw from the research at any time.
The second one is Information about the study and debriefing. All participants must be provided with the opportunity to obtain information about the nature, results, and conclusions of the research. Psychologists are also obligated to debrief the participants and to correct any misconceptions that participants may have had about the research.

Part IV: The Brain and Mind

Identify three major structures of the brain and their respective functions in the human body.

Hindbrain is one of the major structures of the brain. It is the region at the base of the brain that connects the brain to the spinal cord.

Forebrain is another major structures of the brain. It is the uppermost and largest brain region. It consists of the corpus callosum which is the thick band of axons connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex. It also contains the cerebral cortex which is divided into two hemispheres and responsible for sophisticated mental functions.

One of the other major structures is the Midbrain which contains structures involved in processing visual and auditory information.