Research is important because it is a way of checking hypothesis'. If we didn't have anyway to test a scientist's hypothesis, then they could never be proved and we would never be completely sure of things that we know. One example of this research could be trying to figure out what our dreams mean. This example pertains to me because I very often wake up in the morning and wonder why I dreamt the things I dreamt about, as I am sure many others around the world do.
In this chapter I learned that psychologists use mean, median, and mode to summarize data. I have used mean, median, and mode before in math classes, but I never really thought of it being used in different ways than that.
I also learned the term hindsight bias. This tendency I believe is important to realize because pretty much everyone does it. When you really think about it, how many times in a day does a teacher give you the answer to a question and then you say 'I knew that'. I know I do it on a regular basis, but if I really think about it I'm not sure I did know the answer.
Lastly, I found James Randi's test for those claiming to see auras around people's bodies very interesting. I found it interesting because, although all of them claimed to see the auras, none of them were willing to try to locate him behind a short wall. It makes me wonder, why not? If they really believed they could see the auras it shouldn't have been a problem. And the fact that they wouldn't try the test makes ME think that they were just making it all up.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
PsyBlog #1
I read an article on psyblog entitled "Why You Can't Help Believing Everything You Read." In this article it talked about two hypothesis', one made by Descartes and another made by Baruch Spinoza.
Descartes' hypothesis was that understanding and believing things are two seperate processes. So, first people take in information that they read and then they process it and decide whether they believe it or not. However, Spinoza's thought was that understanding something was believing it.
In the experiment that was preformed it was found that Spinoza was infact correct, and that understanding is in fact believing.
Descartes' hypothesis was that understanding and believing things are two seperate processes. So, first people take in information that they read and then they process it and decide whether they believe it or not. However, Spinoza's thought was that understanding something was believing it.
In the experiment that was preformed it was found that Spinoza was infact correct, and that understanding is in fact believing.
Prologue Blog
At the beginning of this class, before I read any of the book I thought psychology was the study of the human mind and human thoughts. I figured it was complex, but I never guessed it would be THIS complex. Most people think of sciences as working with chemicals and things, but psychology is also a science-complete with hypothosis' and conclusions.
I think that psychology affects my life in many ways. I have often wondered why I thought things that I thought or dreamt things that I have dreamt, and I believe through psychology I will be able to learn these things.
In reading the prologue I learned a lot of things, but the most predominant two would be the fact that the study of psychology didn't really start until 1879, and the many subfeilds that psychology encompasses. I found that it didn't start until 1879 interesting because I would have thought it would start much earlier than that. Obviously they mean the study of psychology as we know it today, but that is still a fairly recent time.
I also found the many subfeilds interesting because there are so many professions that research different parts of psychology in different ways. Way more than I had thought of previously.
I think that psychology affects my life in many ways. I have often wondered why I thought things that I thought or dreamt things that I have dreamt, and I believe through psychology I will be able to learn these things.
In reading the prologue I learned a lot of things, but the most predominant two would be the fact that the study of psychology didn't really start until 1879, and the many subfeilds that psychology encompasses. I found that it didn't start until 1879 interesting because I would have thought it would start much earlier than that. Obviously they mean the study of psychology as we know it today, but that is still a fairly recent time.
I also found the many subfeilds interesting because there are so many professions that research different parts of psychology in different ways. Way more than I had thought of previously.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
All About Me
Hello,
My name is Beth Leffel. I am 17 years old and a senior attending Edgar High School.
I believe my family atmosphere has shaped my life. I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters, ranging from 18 years older than me to 11 years older than me. Growing up this way, at times I felt I had the best of both worlds, in that I had siblings yet often felt like an only child. Still, at other times it was the worst of both worlds, no one to play with or study with yet I had to share a room with my older sister. The sharing a room part wasn't a problem for me, I was about 5, but looking back now I can only imagine how she felt.
Studying psychology is important to me because I think it is important to understand ours and other peoples thoughts in a professional way, rather than judging people.
I believe psychology is the study of conscious and unconscious thoughts.
My name is Beth Leffel. I am 17 years old and a senior attending Edgar High School.
I believe my family atmosphere has shaped my life. I have four siblings, two brothers and two sisters, ranging from 18 years older than me to 11 years older than me. Growing up this way, at times I felt I had the best of both worlds, in that I had siblings yet often felt like an only child. Still, at other times it was the worst of both worlds, no one to play with or study with yet I had to share a room with my older sister. The sharing a room part wasn't a problem for me, I was about 5, but looking back now I can only imagine how she felt.
Studying psychology is important to me because I think it is important to understand ours and other peoples thoughts in a professional way, rather than judging people.
I believe psychology is the study of conscious and unconscious thoughts.
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