PSYCHOLOGY —RESEARCH METHODS - cHaPTer 1 Research methods in psychology

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Gloria

Chapter 1 introduces research methods and the key science skills used in VCE Psychology. It explains what psychology is and how its scientific definition has evolved, from behaviour-focused research to modern approaches that can examine mental processes through new technologies. The chapter distinguishes mental processes (thoughts and feelings that are private and unobservable) from behaviour (externally expressed actions that are observable), and shows how psychologists make inferences from evidence. It frames these attitudes and principles for conducting and evaluating investigations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages106

Reading Time4 h 27 min

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cHaPTer 1 Research methods in psychology

DEfininG PSYCHOLOGY AnD iTS SubjECT MATTER

MEnTAL PROCESSES AnD bEHAviOuR

PSYCHOLOGY —RESEARCH METHODS What research methods and key science skills are used in VCE Psychology? cHaPTer 1 Research methods in psychology c iRnesearpsycl metogyhods The VCE Psychology study design prescribes a set of key science skills that is a core part of the study of psychology and applies across all areas of study in all units. These skills primarily involve research methods that may be used to undertake investigations and to evaluate the research of others. This chapter focuses on the research methods and the underlying attitudesand principles specified within the key science skills. We start with a brief description of the nature of contemporary psychology to clarify its subject matter and the overall context of VCE Psychology, its aims, areas of study, learning outcomes, key knowledge and key science skills. DEfininG PSYCHOLOGY AnD iTS SubjECT MATTER The term psychology originates from two Greek words: psyche, meaning soul or mind, and logos, which loosely translated means study or knowledge. Therefore, by its original definition, psychology was initially described as ‘the study of the soul or mind’. By the late 19th century, when psychology became a distinguishable scientific discipline, it was described as ‘the science of mental life’. At this time,‘psychologists’ studied the mind by asking their research participants to describe their mental experiences, using questions such as ‘What are you thinking?’ and ‘What are you feeling?’ During the early 20th century, many psychologists adopted the view that a true science can study only overt behaviour. Overt behaviour is any response made by an organism (person or animal) that is clearly visible and therefore directly observable and more likely to be measured accurately. They rejected the study of mental experiences, as these are covert; that is, internal and hidden from view and therefore not directly observable or easily measured. This led many psychologists to change direction from studying mental experiences, such as aggression or forgetting, to studying the outward expressions of these experiences through observable behaviour, such as displays of anger or performance on a memory test. Consequently, in the 1920s, psychology was commonly defined as ‘the scientific study of behaviour’(Sdorow, 1995) . This view was dominant until the 1970s, when interest in studying the mind returned, primarily asa result of the development of new technologies such as scanning devices that could capture images of the human brain while participants engaged in various experimental tasks. This enabled psychologists to more effectively observe and measure the previously‘hidden’ activity of the brain. As the new technologies were refined and the discipline of psychology matured, it became increasingly clear to most psychologists that they could not fully understand human behaviour without also understanding the mental and biological processes underlying and sustaining behaviour. Currently, definitions of psychology refer to the discipline as involving the systematic study of mental processes and behaviour. This is also the definition adopted for VCE Psychology. However, in VCE Psychology, psychology is defined more precisely asthe scientific study of human thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Note the key parts of the definition in figure 1.1 below. Science involves systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data. Thoughts and feelings are mental processes — private experiences that cannot be directly observed. Behaviour involves externally expressed actions that can be directly observed. 4 PSYCHOLOGY — RESEARCH METHODS What research methods and key science skills are used in VCE Psychology? MEnTAL PROCESSES AnD bEHAviOuR Psychologists usually distinguish mental processes from behaviour. The term mental processes generally refers to a person’s thoughts and feelings, which are personal, or subjective, and cannot be directly observed. What you

FAQs

What is the focus of Chapter 1 in VCE Psychology?

Chapter 1 focuses on research methods and the underlying attitudes and principles specified within the key science skills for VCE Psychology.

How does the chapter define psychology and its subject matter?

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of human thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and it emphasizes systematic study of mental processes and behaviour.

What is the difference between mental processes and behaviour?

Mental processes are private thoughts and feelings that cannot be directly observed, while behaviour consists of externally expressed actions that can be directly observed.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Gloria