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Well, How did Experimental Psychology

came into its current place?

Introduction to
Experimental Psychology

Definitely, because of Psychology Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior (APA,
2015)
However, if we will be rooting its etymology it comes from
the word:
1.) Psyche-Soul
2.) Logos-Study
Study of the Soul

They are curious about variety of behaviors First, people turn to Philosophers/Theologians
and also how their thoughts developed to Explain things.
School of Athens
by Raphael
Sanzio

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Ancient Greek Philosophers
Socrates- the influence of social environment to an individual
Plato-We are driven to act based on what is virtuous and
moral. Man are innately a good soul.
Aristotle-Identified the five basic senses (vison, hearing, smell,
taste, and touch), which makes an individual rational in
thinking. Men are pleasure seeking creatures.
Democritus- Behavior is influence by our drive for internal
tranquility.
17th Century Philosopher
Monism-Holds that mind and body are one and that
the mind is not a separate entity.
Mental events are simply products of physical events in
the brain
Advocated by an English Philosopher named Thomas
Hobbes
It is implied by this concept that mind can be
understand by quantifying the physical processes inside
the brain.
Empiricism in Psychology
This concept initiated a lot of observation-based approach
studies to Psychology.
1860-Gustav Theodor Fechner started experimenting with
human sensation of stimuli (psychophysics)
1879- At the University of Leipzig, Wilhelm Wundt established
the first laboratory set for studying the mind.
They set conditions, then they observe
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17th Century Philosopher
Mind-Body Dualism-the belief that the
mind is a spiritual entity not subject to
physical laws that govern the body
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), There is a
structure in the brain that causes the
interaction of the non material mind and
the physical body. He called it Pineal Gland
British Empiricism (17th 18th Century)
All ideas and knowledge can only be gained empirically (through the
senses)
Observation is a more valid approach to knowledge than reason
(Rationalization).
Some Proponents are the following:
Sir Francis Bacon-Scientific Inquiry
John Locke- Who we are is what we have experienced (Tabula Rasa)
David Hume- All ideas are brought by our impressions based on
sensations
Wilhelm Wundt Gustav Theodore Fechner
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Empiricism in Psychology
Empiricism in Psychology
Structuralism
Functionalism (Theory of Consciousness)
o Started by Edward Titchener (Student of Wundt)
-Founded by William James
o The analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements
(Sensations, Feelings, Images) -Consciousness helps people adapt to their
environment.
o Introspection (main process used by structuralists on their
studies)-It means looking within -Focused on the functions of consciousness such as
attention, senses adjustment, and physiological changes.
o They analyzed the inner experiences of an individual when
exposed on a certain stimuli

Arrival of Behaviorism (Non-belief on Consciousness)

-1902 While studying salivation in dogs,
Ivan Pavlov happened upon the
Principles of conditioning
-Reflexes (unlearned) can be learned (or
conditioned) through association
-Simple form of associative learning that
enables organisms to anticipate events

Arrival of Behaviorism (Non-belief on Consciousness) Arrival of Behaviorism (Non-belief on Consciousness)

1913- John B. Watson said that if Psychology was to
be a natural Science, like physics or chemistry, it must
limit itself to observable and measurable events
(Behavior).
Watson founded Behaviorism, A school of Psychology
that focuses on learning observable behavior.
Mans action is based on the elements of the body
not on an imaginary monitoring system within our
head.
-1938-BF Skinner- Organisms learn to behave on a
certain way due to the presence of drive elements
called reinforcements.
-Learn to do, or not do, things based on the
consequences of the behavior
-Voluntary responses are acquired or conditioned

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Methods of Establishing of Truth

Authority
Something is considered truth because of tradition or
because of some person of distinction says it is true.
Most situations in our lifetime manifest this tendency of
believing that something is true not because we prove it
by our self but someone of good and strong reputation
declare it.

Methods of Establishing of Truth

Rationalism
Uses reasoning alone to arrive at knowledge. It assumes that if the
premises are sound and reasoning is carried out correctly according
to the rules of logic, then solutions will yield truth.
All happy people smiles
Jefferson Smiles
Jefferson is a happy person

Methods of Establishing of Truth Archimedes

Intuition
Sudden Insight
Arrival of idea after all efforts of explanation had already failed
Story of Archimedes
The effort of measuring the pureness of King Hierons Crown.
Archimedes had a hard time finding a solution
During bathing time on a public bath, he generated a solution
After grasping the idea, he said Eureka

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Method of Establishing Truth Scientific Method

Scientific Method
Utilization of systematic process of gathering data to
formulate a conclusion to a certain inquiry
This is the way present psychologist formulate their
ideas and concepts. This process of formulating
concepts and ideas based on systematically gathered
data is called Psychological Research.
Data gathered can be in the form of words
or numerical representation of different
psychological phenomenon
For this reason, statistics is very important
in formulating conclusions based on
numerical data

Scientific Method Paradigm Shift had happened !

Authoritarian Philosophical Scientific

(Person-Driven) (Reason-Driven) (Research Driven)

Research Theory
A Certain Experience Research Testing
Hypothesis/Examining
Common Beliefs Questions/Hypothesis
research question
-It is an organized way of using experience
and testing ideas to expand and refine
knowledge.
-Implements Scientific method (there are Theory
Drawing Conclusions
Evidence/Data

steps to be followed to be able of generating Construction/Modification

knowledge)
-This method requires the characteristic called
critical thinking. New Research Questions/Hypotheses

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THEORIES: End game of Research Forms of Research

1.) Scientific prepositions for Case Studies-Collecting information about individuals and
relationship among events small groups.
2.) Informed manner of Survey/Descriptive- A method of scientific investigation in
which a large sample of people answer questions about their
explaining phenomenon attitudes and behavior.
3.) Built through Research Naturalistic Observation- A scientific method in which
organisms are observed in their natural environments.

Forms of Research Experimental method

Correlation Method- A mathematical method of determining
whether one variable increases or decreases as another variable
increases or decreases.
Correlation coefficient r- A number between +1 and -1 that
expresses the strength and direction of the relationship between the
two variables.
Regression-For the purpose of expanding the inference of a
correlational research. Gives the predicting values between variables
Experimental Method- A scientific method that seeks to confirm cause and effect
relationships by introducing independent variables and observing their effects on
dependent variable.
Independent Variable- the factor manipulated on the experiment
Dependent Variable- The factor observed as the Independent variable was
implemented.
Experimental Groups-The group who received the treatment
Control Groups- Dont obtain the treatment