Wundt and The Emergence

Question 1

Describe Wundt and his role in the development of psychology

Answer 1

• Known as the “Father of psychology”
• Moved from philosophical roots to controlled research
• Set up first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879
• Promoted the use of introspection as a way of studying mental processes

Question 2

Describe introspection

Answer 2

Systematic analysis of own conscious experience of a stimulus

Question 3

Describe the method of introspection

Answer 3

• All researchers presented with same, carefully controlled stimuli
• Asked to provide description of inner processes they were experiencing (emotions and feelings)
• Recorded under strictly controlled conditions, same standardised instructions and same stimulus

Question 4

How did Watson criticise introspection

Answer 4

He claimed introspection was not objective and produced results were difficult to generalise.
He also said truly scientific psychology should be empirical by studying phenomena which can be directly observed.

Question 5

Define the scientific approach

Answer 5

Variety of methodologies, mostly empirical and using observable data

Question 6

Name the features of a science

Answer 6

• The empirical method
• Objectivity
• Replicability
• Falsifiability
• Theory construction and hypothesis testing
• Paradigms and paradigm shifts

Question 7

Describe the empirical method

Answer 7

Empirical evidence is directly observable

Question 8

Describe objectivity

Answer 8

• Free from bias
• Based on observable phenomena
• Not influenced by opinion

Question 9

Describe replicability

Answer 9

The extent to which a study can be repeated so that the reliability of the results can be judged

Question 10

Describe falsifiability

Answer 10

When it is possible to prove a statement/hypothesis wrong (only possible if the study is replicable)

Question 11

Describe paradigms and paradigm shifts

Answer 11

A paradigm is a set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline.
A paradigm shift is when a theory is falsified and a new paradigm is created based off the newly discovered information.

Question 11

Describe theory construction and hypothesis testing

Answer 11

• Theory needs to be rigid
• Hypothesis needs to be clear and operationalised

Question 12

Evaluate Wundt’s methods

Answer 12

+ Introspection is still being used as a useful method by modern psychologists
- Wundt’s methods were not scientific

Question 13

Evaluate the scientific approach

Answer 13

+ Likely to lead to a greater understanding of human behaviour
- Low ecological validity