Origins of Psychology and Research Methods

Worksheet
PSY/103 Version 8

University of Phoenix Material

Origins of Psychology and Research Methods Worksheet
Part I: Origins of Psychology
Within psychology, there are several perspectives used to describe, predict, and explain human behavior.
The seven major perspectives in modern psychology are psychoanalytic, behaviorist, humanist, cognitive,
neuroscientific/biopsychological, evolutionary, and sociocultural. Describe the perspectives, using two to
three sentences each. Select one major figure associated with one of the perspectives and describe his
or her work in two to three sentences. Type your response in the space below.
1. Psychoanalytic- This area of psychology explores the unconscious mind, early childhood experiences
and interpersonal relationships. This forum tries to explain human behavior and tries to treat people's
illness. Sigmund Freud work in psychology was vast and he was one of the most influential people in
the 20th century. He explored the human mind more thoroughly than any other person.
2. Behaviorist - This area of psychology focuses primarily on the learning behaviors. Its main focus to
observe and make accurate judgments. John B Watson founded the school of psychology and he wrote
a classic paper called "Psychology as the Behaviorist Views". He was often considered the "father" of
behaviorism studies.
3. Humanist - This area of psychology, although similar to behaviorist focus more on the unconscious
motivations that drive our behavior as humans. Behaviorism itself studies more on what produces
specific behaviors. Carl Rodgers was one of the founding figures in humanistic psychology. He was best
known for his nondirective approach to a treatment called client-centered therapy.
4. Cognitive - This area of psychology became popular in the 1960's. It focuses primarily on the mental
process of the brain. Some example are memory, thinking, problem solving, language and decisionmaking. Jean Piaget was famously known for his theory in cognitive development in children as they
progressed through childhood. Prior to his theory most people thought kids were mini adults and he
proved that they think on a whole other scale compared to adults.
5. Neuroscientific / Biopsychological - This area of psychology studies the brain and what influence
our behavior and thoughts. This field can be a combination of basic physiology and neuroscience. Knight
Dunlap wrote a very popular book talking about the interconnection between mental and physiological
functions.
6. Evolutionary - This area of psychology is focused on the study of evolution. It tries to explain the
physiological processes that are associated with evolution, natural selection and how it applies to this
physiological phenomena. William James was inspired by Charles Darwin's work and continued his own
theory's throughout the 20th century. His theory that humans had many instincts that drove or decision
and reactions, making skills and this has help explain certain unanswered questions about evolution.
7. Sociocultural - This area of psychology studies awareness in humans. Any circumstance that affects
behaviors from their surroundings, social and cultural interactions. Lev Vygotsky was well recognized and
his theories believed that parents, caregivers and peers and the culture which we live in are responsible
for the development of our higher brain functions.

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Origins of Psychology and Research Methods

Worksheet
PSY/103 Version 8

Part II: Research Methods

Describe research methods used in psychology by completing the following table. Then, select two of the
research methods, and compare and contrast them. Your response must be at least 75 words.
Method

Purpose

Strengths

Weaknesses

Example

Case Study

To provide in-depth
investigations of a
single person.

Provides allot of
data of high value.

Even though
there is allot of
data it still may
not be correct to
all people.

Finding out why a

person's life
suddenly changes
and mode or
attitude.

Naturalistic
Observation

Collect data of all

sorts of things
unknowingly in
their natural
environment.

No external
influence on
subject.

No control on
outside influence
that may disrupt
your
investigation.

Observing risk
factors in kids at
different ages.

Surveys

Data collection tool

Large amount of
data in a short
time.

Answers on
surveys may not
accurately reflect
how people truly
feel.

Telephone surveys
about smoking.

Longitudinal

Research that
involves looking at
variables of the
course of several
years.

Great for looking at

changes over time.

Needs allot of
time and can be
quite expensive.

Studying the affect

of smoking over a
lifetime.

Part II Response; The two research methods I will comparing and contrasting are case
studies and surveys. Both of these research methods are similar because they both
retrieve data on a person or particular subject and then study it later. A difference
between the two research methods are that case studies pick the person or object
they're going to study, while surveys pick random people to collect their information and
have no real choice on the person that may just be walking by at the right moment.
Describe one ethical issue related to research. Why is informed consent necessary for ethical research?
In connecting to informed consent a ethical issue might arise if a doctor for example receives consent
from a patient on a experimental drug but leaves out key facts about side effects and the possibility that
the body may completely reject the treatment. A greedy unethical doctor may intentionally leave out this
information for gain in their research at no regard for human life.

Copyright 2015 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Origins of Psychology and Research Methods

Worksheet
PSY/103 Version 8

Part III: The Brain

Studying the functions and elements of the brain is essential to understanding human behavior.
1. Why do psychologists study twins? Why do psychologists study, children who have been adopted?
What can be learned from these types of studies?
Psychologists have been known to study twins, both identical and fraternal to gain insight on
behavior aspects and certain traits. Same goes for a psychologist who studied adopted children, do birth
parents play a consent role in how a child developed both mentally and physically over an adoptive
parent?
Both of these studies can gain countless information on behavioral aspects and how children develop
traits as they grow based on their surroundings.

2. What are the functions of neurotransmitters and hormones? How do they influence the brain and
behavior?
Neurotransmitters and hormones are essential to the body to work properly both mentally and physically.
These substances are the main to as well that play an important role in how the brain functions. These
two help the brain balance the feelings and signals that are sent to organs all over the body. These
chemicals carry all the orders that are responsible for triggering different kinds of emotions as well.

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