Research Methods in Social Psychology

Social psychologists are interested in the ways that other people affect thought, emotion, and behavior. To explore these concepts requires special research methods. Following a brief overview of traditional research designs, this module introduces how complex experimental designs, field experiments, naturalistic observation, experience sampling techniques, survey research, subtle and nonconscious techniques such as priming, and archival research and the use of big data may each be adapted to address social psychological questions. This module also discusses the importance of obtaining a representative sample along with some ethical considerations that social psychologists face.

Material Type: Module

Author: Rajiv Jhangiani

Psychology, States of Consciousness

Material Type: Unit of Study

PSY101 - Topic 4 - States of Consciousness

Topic 4: States of ConsciousnessTextbook readings: pp. 111-140.Watch: The Mind Hidden and Divided -  is the fourteenth program in the DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY series. Based on the pioneering research of Sigmund Freud, this program explores how the events and experiences that take place in the subconscious manifest themselves in our conscious lives. You'll learn about repression, the distinction between discovered and false memory syndrome, hypnosis, and split-brain cases.  ©2001 WGBH Educational Foundation All Rights ReservedWatch: The Mind - Series Homepage  Produced by Colorado State University. 1999, all decriptions are from series website. Alcohol Addiction: Hereditary Factors  (module 29)Deals with alcoholism, addiction, biological evidence for hereditary traits, and how science progresses through replication and the development of new technologies.Treating Drug Addiction: A Behavioral Approach (module 30)Provides an example of how drug therapies incorporate the results of research on several levels of behavior, and shows how patients learn to deal with environmental triggers for cravings.Watch: The Brain - Series Homepage Produced by Colorado State University. 1997, all decriptions are from series website.The Brain: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms  (module 13) This module covers our natural rhythms and the stages that occur during sleep. It shows the brain's electrical activity over the course of a normal night's sleep, with its REM and non-REM cycles. The remainder of the module is devoted to an experiment conducted by Michel Siffre, a French cave explorer, in which Siffre spends seven months in a Texas cave. Without external cues, the body is shown to have its own built-in clock.The Brain: Sleep: Brain Functions (module 14)What is the purpose of sleep? This module sets out to answer this question by exploring the patterns of a woman's sleep and dream cycles in the setting of a sleep laboratory. Characteristics of the five stages of sleep and the typical 90-minute cycle are explained. The module also covers sleep disorders and the current techniques used to treat them.The Brain: REM Sleep and Dreaming (module 15)This module probes deeper issues relating to sleep and dreaming. The uniquely individual experience of dreaming requires researchers to look beyond conventional methods of study. Dream specialist Dr. J. Allan Hobson discusses the function of dreams, explaining his theory of the biological mechanism behind the phenomenon and reflecting on the contribution of dreaming to human creativity.*All descriptions come from Annenberg LearningLearning objectives:1.      Define consciousness, circadian rhythm, melatonin, and jet lag.2.      Define sleep and describe possible effects of insufficient sleep (sleep deprivation).3.      Describe two theories (“adaptive” & “cognitive function”) about why we sleep.4.      Describe the different stages of sleep.5.      Describe the symptoms of various sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleepwalking, REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep apnea and narcolepsy.6.      Explain the difference between physical dependence and psychological dependence in “substance use disorders”.7.      Delineate the different categories of commonly abused drugs. For each category describe potential effects of those drugs on mind and behavior.8.      Define hypnosis and meditation, and explain their relationships to consciousness.

Material Type: Module

Author: Annemarie Roscello

States of Consciousness

No matter what you’re doing--solving homework, playing a video game, simply picking out a shirt--all of your actions and decisions relate to your consciousness. But as frequently as we use it, have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What really is consciousness? In this module, we discuss the different levels of consciousness and how they can affect your behavior in a variety of situations. As well, we explore the role of consciousness in other, “altered” states like hypnosis and sleep.

Material Type: Module

Authors: Jake Teeny, Robert Biswas-Diener

PSY101 - Topic 11 - Stress

Topic 10: StressTextbook readings: pp. 493-494; pp. 504-510; pp. 523-528.Watch: The Brain - Series Homepage  Produced by Colorado State University. 1997, all descriptions are from the series website.The Brain: Emotions, Stress, and Health (Module 21) Commentary from scientists, dramatic reenactments, and graphic illustrations show the consequences of prolonged stress on health. Animated diagrams show the brain releasing hormones, followed by a role-playing situation illustrating on-the-job stress that may set this process in motion. Researchers explain how low-level stress leads to the breakdown of frontal lobe functioning.Learning objectives:1.      Define stress and stressors, and also describe different types of stressors.2.      Differentiate between “problem-focused” coping and “emotion-focused” coping to regulate stress. 3.      Explain “perceived control” and “learned helplessness”, and their relation to stress.4.      Explain how “social support” and “relaxation response technique” can reduce stress.

Material Type: Module

Author: Annemarie Roscello

Psychology, Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Material Type: Unit of Study

Psychology, Biopsychology

Material Type: Unit of Study

The Brain

The human brain is responsible for all behaviors, thoughts, and experiences described in this textbook. This module provides an introductory overview of the brain, including some basic neuroanatomy, and brief descriptions of the neuroscience methods used to study it.

Material Type: Module

Authors: Diane Beck, Evalina Tapia

Psychology, Therapy and Treatment

Material Type: Unit of Study

PSY101 - Topic 13 - Therapy and Treatment

Topic 13: Therapy and TreatmentTextbook readings: p. 607; pp. 614-629.Watch:Discovering Psychology: Discovering Psychology: Psychotherapy (Program 22)Psychotherapy is the twenty-second program in the DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY series. It explores different therapeutic approaches as well as the relationships among theory, research, and practice. You'll learn how some historical, cultural, and social forces have influenced approaches to the treatment of psychological disorders.Watch: The Mind - Series Homepage  Produced by Colorado State University. 1999, all descriptions are from the series website. The Mind: Treating Depression: Electroconvulsive Therapy (Module 34)Provides a clear and dramatic presentation of the process and some of the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).The Brain - Series Homepage  Produced by Colorado State University. 1997, all descriptions are from the series website.The Brain: Schizophrenia: Pharmacological Treatment (Module 28)Dr. Arnold Scheibel reviews the various ways in which schizophrenia has been treated since the 1950s, ranging from the use of physical restraints and cool baths to the administration of antipsychotic drugs. He and other psychiatrists elaborate on the ways in which drugs alter the chemistry of the brain. Drugs that are effective seem to reduce the levels of dopamine in the brain — to provide amelioration and stabilization, not a cure.Watch:The World of Abnormal Psychology - Produced by Alvin H. Perlmutter, Inc., and Toby Levine Communications. 1992, all descriptions are from the series website.The World of Abnormal Psychology: Psychotherapies (Program 12)This program allows viewers to "sit-in" on five distinctly different kinds of psychotherapy: psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, Gestalt, couples, and group. Theory and practice are intertwined as these patients progress through therapy, sometimes trying alternative models for the same problem. Learning objectives:1.      Distinguish between psychotherapy and biomedical therapy.2.      Explain the main goal and main components of psychoanalysis (Freud’s psychotherapy which includes “free association” and “dream analysis” techniques); behavior therapy which includes “exposure” technique, “aversive conditioning”, “counter-conditioning” and “token economy” technique); cognitive therapy (originated by Beck); cognitive-behavioral therapy (which incorporates both cognitive and behavioral techniques); and biomedical therapies (which include psychotropic medications and ECT: electroconvulsive therapy).3.      Distinguish between these “modalities” (formats) of psychotherapy: play therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. 

Material Type: Module

Author: Annemarie Roscello

Psychology, Thinking and Intelligence

Material Type: Unit of Study