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College Board Objectives

College Board Objectives:

1.1 Introducing Psychology

• 1. A Recognize how philosophical and physiological perspectives shaped the development of psychological thought.

• 1. B Identify the research contributions of major historical figures in psychology

• Examples: Mary Whiton Calkins, Charles Darwin, Dorothea Dix, Sigmund Freud, G. Stanley Hall, William James, Ivan Pavlov, Jean Piaget, Carl Rogers, B.F. Skinner, Margaret Washburn, John Watson, Wilhelm Wundt

• 1.C- Describe and compare different theoretical approaches in explaining behavior.

• Examples: Structuralism, Functionalism, Early Behaviorism, Gestalt, Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic, Humanistic, Evolutionary, Biological, Cognitive, Biopsychosocial and Sociocultural approach

• 1.D- Recognize the strengths and limitations of applying theories to explain behavior.

1.E- Distinguish the different domains of psychology. Examples: Biological, Clinical, Cognitive, Counseling, Developmental, Educational, Experimental, Industrial Organizational, Personality, Psychometric, Social and PositiveTopic 1.2: Research Methods in Psychology

1.F Differentiate types of research with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses.

Examples: Research Methods: experiments, correlational studies, survey research, naturalistic observations, case studies, longitudinal studies, cross sectional studies.

1.G Discuss the value of reliance on operational definitions and measurement in behavioral research.

Topic 1.3- The Experimental Method

1.H Identify independent, dependent, confounding, and control variables in experimental designs.

1.I Describe how research design drives the reasonable conclusions that can be drawn.

Examples: Experiments are useful for determining cause and effect, The use of experimental controls reduces alternative explanations

Random assignment is needed to demonstrate cause and effect, Correlational research can indicate if there is a relationship or association between two variables but cannot demonstrate cause and effect.

1.J Distinguish between random assignment of participants to conditions in experiments and random selection of participants, primarily in correlational studies and surveys.

Topic 1.4- Selecting a Research Method

1.K- Predict the validity of behavioral explanations based on the quality of research design.

Examples: Confounding variables limit confidence in research conclusions.

Topic 1.5- Statistical Analysis in Psychology

1.L Apply Basic descriptive statistical concepts, including interpreting and constructing graphs and calculating simple descriptive statistics.

Examples: Measure of central tendency, Variation (range, standard deviation), Correlation coefficient, Frequency distribution (normal, bimodal, positive skew, negative skew)

1.M Distinguish the purpose of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

Topic 1.6- Ethical Guidelines in Psychology

1.N Identify how ethical issues inform and constrain research practices.

Examples: Those provided by the American Psychological Association, Federal regulations, Local Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)