Unit 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Foundations of Psychology Class Notes
Foundations of Psychology Unit Overview ​
​Learning Journal ​
How to write an FRQ

 1.1: Introducing Psychology Part A
Part A.1 Early Psychology Slides
Concept Map for 1.1 Part A.1 

Part A.2 Modern Approaches to Psychology Slides
Concept Map for 1.1 Part A.2 
(filled out)

​Helpful Materials
​- Approaches Reading
​- Approaches Concept Map
- Approaches Chart
- Approaches Helping People Worksheet
- Applying Approaches to a Case Study
Part A.1
A. Recognize how philosophical and physiological perspectives shaped the development of psychological thought.
B. Identify the research contributions of major historical figures in psychology.
  • Mary Wilkins Calkins, Charles Darwin, Dorothea Dix, Sigmund Freud, G. Stanley Hall, William James, Ivan Pavlov, Jean Piaget, Carl Rogers, B. F. Skinner, Margaret Floyd Washburn, John Watson, Wilhelm Wundt
C. Describe and compare different theoretical approaches in explaining behavior.
  • Structuralism, Functionalism, Early Behaviorism, Gestalt,
Part A.2
​Describe the Modern Approaches to Psychology: Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic, Humanism, Evolutionary, Biological, Cognitive, Biopsychosocial, Sociocultural
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1.1 Part A.1
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1.1 A.2

1.1: Introducing Psychology Part B
Careers in Psychology Slides

Concept Map for 1.1 Part B

​- Careers in Psychology Reading
- Kahoot on Approaches and History


16 Personality Factors 
Myers Briggs Career Suggested Careers
D. Recognize the strengths and limitations of applying theories to explain behavior.
E.  Distinguish the different domains of psychology.
  • Biological, Clinical, Cognitive, Counseling, Developmental, Educational, Experimental, Industrial-Organizational, Personality, Psychometric, Social, Positive

1.2: Research Methods in Psychology Part A - Overview
​Research Methods in Psychology Slides

Concept Map for 1.2 Part A

- Research Methods Flow Chart
​- Demo - Wording Effect
- Demo - Random Sampling
F. Differentiate types of research with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Descriptive (survey research, naturalistic observations, case studies) correlational, experimental, and studies involving development (longitudinal studies, cross-sectional studies.)
G. Discuss the value of reliance on operational definitions and measurement in behavioral research.

1.2: Research Methods in Psychology  - Part B - Descriptive
Descriptive Research Methods Slides

Concept Map for 1.2 Par B

​- Demo - Wording Effect
- Demo - Random Sampling
​- Descriptive Research Kahoot


Analyzing Psychological Research
​-Alcohol Use in Natural Setting
-Moral Development in Fraternities
- AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct
F. Differentiate types of research with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Descriptive (survey research, naturalistic observations, case studies)

1.2: Research Methods in Psychology  - Part C - Correlational
​- Correlation Handout
- DEMO - Google Form Correlation Survey
- Demo- Correlation Application Activity
- Demo - Correlation Spreadsheet
- Demo - Correlation Variables
- Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long Term Goals
- Kahoot on Correlation
F. Differentiate types of research with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • correlational

1.3 The Experimental Method

Experimental Method Slides
Concept Map on 1.3

​- Demo- Sex Reflex
- Worksheet - Telling IV and DV  Apart
H. Identify independent, dependent, confounding, and control variables in experimental designs.
I. Describe how research design drives the reasonable conclusions that can be drawn.
  • Experiments determine cause and effect, experimental controls reduce alternate explanations, random assignment is needed to demonstrate cause and effect, correlation can indicate relationship but not causation.
J. Distinguish between random assignment of participants to conditions in experiments and random selection of participants, primarily in correlational studies and surveys. 

1.5 Statistical Analysis in Psychology ​

Concept Map on 1.5

​- Descriptive Statistics PowerPoint
- Descriptive Statistics Concept Map
- Demo- Mean, Median, and Mode.  Why?
- Demo- Standard Deviation on a Test
- Demo- Rolling Dice
​- Inferential Statistics PowerPoint
​- Reading - Confidence Intervals
L. Apply basic descriptive statistical concepts, including interpreting and constructing graphs and calculating simple descriptive statistics.
  • Measures of central tendency, variation(range, standard deviation), correlation coefficient, frequency distribution (normal, bimodal, positive skew, negative skew.)
M. Distinguish the purposes of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

1.6 Ethical Guidelines in Psychology

Concept Map on 1.6

- APA Ethical Guidelines
- Worksheet - Ethics ​
N. Identify how ethical issues inform and constrain research practices.
O. Describe how ethical and legal guidelines protect research participants and promote sound ethical practice.
  • APA, Federal regulations, Local IRB, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Helpful Links

Kahoot review game for this unit.

Correlation is not Causation - Would someone tell the media!  Here is a list of articles that get this a bit confused.
Schools of Psychology Quiz from AP Psych Commune
Research Methods Quiz from AP Psych Commune