Psychological Perspectives, Pseudo-Science & Astrology Empirical Research Activity

Session 7 - Psychological Perspectives

Discuss the results from each student’s timeline – run through the major points with the class... Questions that could be asked: What were the most interesting points you included in your timeline? Ask students to copy down the following in their workbooks: There are various different approaches in contemporary psychology.  An approach is a perspective (i.e. view) that involves certain assumptions (i.e. beliefs) about human behaviour: the way they function, which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study. There may be several different theories within an approach, but they all share these common assumptions. Move onto the different perspectives (mention that most the psychologists in the timeline belong to one) and hand out relevant information – use the textbook and following website: http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html ·      Biological ·      Cognitive ·      Behavioural ·      Socio-cultural Assign a different perspective to each group (4) and each group member (4-5) a task / question: 1.     In approximately 80 words provide your own overview of the relevant perspective. 2.     Describe influential figures and their ideas / practice related to the perspective. 3.     Provide a detailed explanation (80 words) about how research is conducted in this perspective. 4.     What are the strengths of this perspective? 5.     What are the limitations compared to the other perspectives? All groups are then to summarize using the information gathered from all of the tasks and questions for each group. Session 8 - Pseudoscience & Introduction to Astrology ERA All groups are then to summarize using the information gathered from all of the tasks and questions for each group. Assign a different perspective to each group (4) and each group member (4-5) a task / question: Allow roughly 10 or so minutes for students to complete the Psychological Perspectives group work – needs to be taken up and photocopied on to A4 paper for all students… Move onto title: ‘The Study of Psychology’ as students to copy the following in their workbooks: Pseudoscience One of the earliest techniques to study psychology and attempt to predict human behaviour was through a technique called phrenology. This involved feeling bumps on a person’s skull to assess their personality. This is an early example of what is known as a pseudoscience – a fake or false science. Pseudosciences  include palmistry (palm reading) and astrology (reading the stars and sky). When people believe that there is some truth to the readings given using a pseudoscience it is known as the ‘Barnum Effect’. That is the individual’s tendency to consider personal descriptions to be accurate if they are stated in general terms. Important to mention the two types of data needed for psychological / scientific research to be conducted: –      Subjective data = interviews, self-reports, questionnaires, observation. –      Objective data = data that can be directly observed and measured. Phrenology clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80dZ71Km6_g&feature=related Astrology: http://www.cainer.com/ In both cases there is no evidence of the data mentioned above… Introduce the Astrology ERA to the class – go over the main aim of the study and prep work. Session 9 - What is Psychology?  Chapter 2 Summary Students are to read through the Chapter 2 Summary (page 64) and complete the multiple-choice questions and short answered questions on page 65 & 66) The above work must be completed in their workbooks and ready for correction next Wednesday 29th Feb.