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Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

The History and Scope of Psychology

Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions

HOPING to satisfy their curiosity about people and to relieve their own woes, millions turn to “psychology.” They watch television shows aimed at helping people cope with their problems, overcome their addictions, and save their marriages. They read articles on psychic powers. They attend stop-smoking hypnosis seminars. They play online games hoping to strengthen their brain. They immerse themselves in self-help websites and books on the meaning of dreams, the path to true love, and the road to personal happiness.

Others, intrigued by claims of psychological truth, wonder: How—and how much—does parenting shape children’s personalities and abilities? What factors affect our drive to achieve? Do dreams have deep meaning? Do we remember events that never happened? Does psychotherapy heal?

In working with such questions, how can we separate uninformed opinions from examined conclusions? How can we best use psychology to understand why people think, feel, and act as they do? In Module 1, we focus on the importance of scientific and critical thinking, trace psychology’s roots, and survey the scope of this field. In Module 2, we consider how psychology’s researchers put the scientific method into action to learn more about this fascinating field.