Unit+1+Introduction+to+Psychology+and+History

What we're doing in class:
1. To what extent is psychology a science? 2. Why do people think, feel, and act the way they do? 3. How do psychologists conduct experiments? 4. Prepare and conduct your own experiment and evaluate the results 5. Who are some of the most influential psychologists in the history of the field?
 * Goals for the unit: By the end of this unit, you should be able to answer or do the following:**

Lesson Summaries:
Today you met your most awesome teacher ever: Ms. Currey! You discussed the syllabus and class expectations and also learned about topics of interest in this course.
 * Day 1 : Why are you here?**
 * Do Now: What is Psychology and why do you want to take a psychology class? What do you expect to learn?**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3FKHH2RzjI&feature=player_embedded

Fun time video about why people study psych: media type="youtube" key="KoRO9RpZOmQ" height="349" width="425"

Note: you will have an opportunity at the end of the semester to research a question of your choice!
 * Homework:** Before you leave answer the following: What is something related to psychology that you would really like to learn about this semester? Some ideas: Dream Analysis, Why do people lie? Why do people fall in love? Are people inherently good or evil? Why are some people more likely to help others? Why are some people more likely to have a bad temper? etc..... Turn in your answer to Mrs. Currey before you leave.


 * Also, read through the following ppt and answer the questions below: We will do this in class if there is time.**

Introduction to Psychology prezi (From Ms. Neyer!) and
media type="custom" key="21751188"

power point: [[file:Becky intro to psych.ppt]]
Note: You don't need to read chapter 1 unless you have a particular interest in different careers in psychology.

Watch the following introduction to psychology lecture from yale to help you learn about more topics of interest that will be up for discussion in this course. You can skip the first 10 minutes of the video. media type="youtube" key="P3FKHH2RzjI" height="360" width="640"

Note: Be sure to write down any questions you may have about material to ask in class next time.


 * Day 2:**
 * Do Now:** **Imagine you saw a child beggar on the street (crazy I know). Would you give him/her money? Food? What circumstances might make you more likely to give him/her money? Explain your answer. We will discuss how this is related to psychology.**
 * List one topic that you learned about in the yale lecture that you are interested in learning more about.**

1. What are some topics from the yale lecture that you found interesting? Share with a neighbor. 2. Share with the class. 3. Questions about content?
 * Homework Review**

Perspectives of Psychology Group Work and presentation. As you learn about different psychological perspectives, think about which perspective **you** think is the best for understanding psychology. You must take a position and be able to defend it at the end of class.

Video Review of different perspectives: media type="youtube" key="YCOgKozCq1Q" height="315" width="560"

media type="custom" key="20551206" [|Authentic Happiness Test]
 * Positive Psychology:**

[|Is positive psychology for everyone?]

Exit Slip: 1. Why are there different perspectives in the field of psychology? To what extent can one perspective be better than another in specific cases? 2. In what ways is Positive Psychology different from the way psychology has been practiced in the past? Are there any drawbacks to using positive psychology? Who would be best suited for it? Who would NOT be well suited for it? 3. Make some notes about the significant contributions to the field of psychology by the following notable individuals/schools of thought: Wilhelm Wundt Gestalt Psychology William James/Functionalism John B. Watson/Behaviorism B.F. Skinner/Reinforcement Sigmund Freud/Psychoanalysis(Psychodynamic is the same) Humansitic/Jean Piaget Positive Psychology: Dr. Martin Seligman


 * Homework:** Read pp 19-36 in your textbook


 * Review:**
 * Watch the following video about famous psychologists that tend to be on the AP Psych exam:**

media type="youtube" key="nCkjnmocyn8" height="315" width="420"

1. What reasons might a psychologist from each of the following perspectives give for why some people help strangers pick up a spilled sack of groceries when given the opportunity? **Behavioral Perspective, Humanistic Perspective, Psychodynamic (Psychoanalytic) Perspective, Cognitive Perspective, Biological Perspective, Social Cultural Perspective** 2. Why do psychologists subscribe to more than one perspective? 3. What do you think about **Positive Psychology?**
 * Day 3: Review The History of Psychology and famous contributors to the field**
 * Do Now:** Quiz!

QUIZ! Review and take the following [|practice AP multiple choice test]. Show me your score.

Read the Powerpoint below and pp52-70 in your textbook and answer the questions below: 1. Why is research especially important in the field of psychology? 2.What are some of the problems with each of the following types of research: observation, case studies, correlational study, survey method, longitudinal study, cross sectional study? (This information is also in the video below) 3. Why are experiments the most powerful research method? 4. List the process of creating an experiment and define the following: independent variable, dependent variable, control group, confounding variables, placebo effect, double-blind experiment, replication.
 * Homework:**

Pros and Cons of certain psychological research methods: media type="youtube" key="fCFoauFu6Lw" height="315" width="560"


 * Review Activity: Watch the following and answer the corresponding questions:**


 * Research Methods ppt and Dr. Phil movie and questions**.

media type="youtube" key="E3MRWen4SfY" height="315" width="420" 1.Why is sample size important to consider when conducting an experiment 2. How many factors should be altered in a valid experiment? 3. What is the difference between correlation and causation? 4. Under what circumstances could a polygraph test work? 5. List 7 things to look out for when evaluating the validity of an experiment.

-How do psychologists do research? -Review methods of research, questions? -Find a research project done by Psychologists to evaluate. Read and evaluate together in groups.
 * Day 4: Do Now: How is psychology a science? What topics are you interested in researching? How would you go about doing research?**
 * Questions to answer for today:**

Example of Research Study of communication for people with Autism. As you watch, think about what experiments/research methods are being used and what hypotheses they are testing. Is the hypothesis proven or disproven? Is it possible to tell from the video what the final results are? Can you determine the following: independent variable, dependent variable, control group, confounding variables?

media type="custom" key="20531112" Another interesting research study about autism and communication: media type="custom" key="20531124"

You will evaluate a research study that has already been conducted and complete the assignment on the link below:
 * Evaluating a Psychological Experiment**

You can find full text psychology articles on [|psycline] just search for a type of psychology that you are interested in. (ex: Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology etc) You may also choose to evaluate a research study that is explained in a video (Example: the above study on autistic communication). A good source would be [|Frontline].


 * What you need to know about Research Methods for the AP test**

**Homework:** **Finish Research Analysis** **Also, complete homework self-assessment form (in your e-mail)**


 * Day 5:**
 * Share Research Analysis with the class.**
 * If you were going to conduct a psych experiment, what would you want to research?**

Due in one week!
 * Project: Conduct your own Psychological Experiment in a group! Click[| here] for the assignment and rubric.**
 * Other Option:** [|Complete this experiment as a class]

Four Goals of Psych Acronym: Don't Eat Poop Cakes (Describe, Explain, Predict, Change) 6 Perspectives of Psych Acronym: Be Prepared By Holding CookieS (Biological, Psychoanalytical, Behaviorist/Learning, Humanistic, Cognitive, Sociocultural
 * Homework: work on experiment write-up**
 * Study for test NEXT CLASS!**

Most important things to remember about conducting a Psychological experiment using the Scientific Method: Develop a Hypothesis ONLY change ONE Variable in an experiment (Independent Variable) Random selection of all participants AND random selection of control group (they are not exposed to IV) and experimental group (they ARE exposed to IV) Think about confounding variables and try to get rid of them to make sure your experiment results are valid Learn affect of IV by measuring Dependent Variable for all participants Use statistics and repeat experiments to make sure that you get the same results and that the DV is a result of the IV.


 * [|Psychology Unit 1 Study Guide]**


 * Day 6:** **Test! Experiment write-up due next class!**

Does Nature or Nurture have a bigger role in creating psychopaths? media type="custom" key="20642133" What about suicide bombers? media type="custom" key="20642447"
 * Start new unit on Biopsych.**
 * See page for the rest of the biopsych unit.**

l what you have learned in class, and the info in your book you must make up a scenario where someone needs psychological help. ll Then, write down what someone with each of the perspectives would say is the root of the problem and perhaps how it can be fixed. You should have 6 different reasons for the problem. ll Be prepared to share with someone in the class!