Psychology Assignment: Approaches, Research Methods, and Ethics Review

This assignment provides an introduction to psychology, exploring two key approaches: psychodynamic and cognitive, highlighting their differences and similarities. It delves into various research methods used in psychological investigations, including case studies, questionnaires, observational studies, laboratory experiments, surveys, and content analysis. The assignment also evaluates the importance of ethical issues in psychological research, such as informed consent, protection from harm, and confidentiality. The content emphasizes the significance of ethical considerations in conducting psychological studies, ensuring the well-being and rights of participants. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the topics, offering valuable insights into the core principles of psychology.

Introduction to Psychology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Compare and contrast two psychological approaches/perspectives.................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Explain different types of research methods used in psychological research..................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Evaluate the importance of ethical issues raised within psychological research.............4
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Psychology refers to a study of behaviours and mind of an individual in scientific
manner. It is known as a multifaceted discipline including several areas such as health, clinical,
social behaviour, sports, cognitive process and human development. However, it can be divisible
widely into two parts like a large profession and a smaller but growing science of mind, brain &
social behaviour (Mangal, 2019). In context of this assignment, it will focus on comparison
among psychological approaches including differences and similarities. It will also include
various types of research methods utilised for psychological investigation. The importance of
ethical issues raised in psychological research are given below.
TASK 1
1.1 Compare and contrast two psychological approaches/perspectives
Psychological approaches refers to a perspective which include specific assumptions such
as beliefs about human behaviour, their way of function, what are their aspects to be worthy of
study and what sort of research methods would be appropriate for understanding human
behaviour. These approaches are introduced by number of psychologists for understanding
human nature and their behaviour. Main reason for developing these approaches is to explain
human phenomena. Such different approaches include Psychodynamic and cognitive which are
discussed here.
Psychodynamic approach: This psychological approach focus on three different parts of
mind which is conscious, preconscious and subconscious along with the three major elements of
personality which are ego, superego and id. It describe conscious mind as perceptions and
thoughts whereas unconscious mind contains desires and wishes developed during childhood. All
psychodynamic theories are developed though psychoanalysis (Weis, 2017). According to this
approach, understanding human behaviour needs observation of feelings and thoughts which
effect actions of an individual. Experiences of childhood has a crucial role in overall
development of individual including enhancement of individual personality. Psycho-sexual
stages of each and every child has a major role in development of overall personality. Methods
of investigation for psychodynamic approach include dream analysis and some clinical case
studies.
1

Cognitive approach : It is basically a modern approach to psychology and focus on
thinking style of an individual. Implementation of cognitive approach to learning brings an
understanding of concepts and information. It can be refer to as overall scientific study of mind
by means of information processor. According to this approach, thinking can be developed with
qualitative changes which comes with enhancement of maturity in brain. It focus on information
process of an individual and states that research is majorly tends to take place in laboratory
settings rather than reality (Ornstein, 2018). Method of investigation for cognitive approach
include observation such as Piaget daily observation method.
There are some differences between both the approaches which are discussed here.
Psychodynamic approach Cognitive approach
 It mainly focus on case studies which
are longitudinal.
 It can be refer as unscientific as it could
not be manipulated and measure.
 It states that human behaviour cannot
be learned and it comes from some
unconscious forces.
 It consider behaviour as predetermined.
 It uses experimental method and brings
out snap shot research.
 It can be refer to as scientific approach
as it states that brain is similar to a
computer in which information process.
 It states that behaviour can be learned
through information process and some
mental changes which occur over
passing time.
 It does not consider behaviour as
predetermined.
Similarities
Along with some major differences, there are some similarities between both the
approaches such as each theory focus on mental state of human beings and explains mental
illness as a serious concern. Both these approaches determines ways of controlling human mind
whenever it is required (Shibutani, 2017). Both these theories put emphasis on human mind on
its own way and reaction of human beings to their surrounding environment. Psychodynamic
approach as well as cognitive approach has difficulties in confirming their investigation.
2

TASK 2
2.1 Explain different types of research methods used in psychological research
Psychological research contains different way of analysing information and gaining
findings. It is necessary for a investigator to determine more effective as well as efficient
research which can be applied to attain accurate outcomes. However, there are various research
methods that can be used by psychologists to carry out their study in psychology in which some
of them are mentioned here.
Case studies can be considered as a qualitative method of investigation which consist
proper observation of an individual or a group of respondents or a particular duration of time. It
includes the criterion that the researcher carry out interview if selected participants or observe
behaviours of them along with preparing records of the overall information (Ellis and Beattie,
2017). However, it has been analysed that case study method is utilised in psychology to
evaluate the theories as well as principles related to psychology that are utilised by psychologist
in actual practices as professionals. Moreover, this types of method is widely used in terms of
professional training by psychological practitioners.
Questionnaires refer to a method of conducting research by gathering data through
views of selected respondents in terms of gaining accurate findings related to specific problem of
the study. It includes the criterion of preparing a series of questions related to the selected topic
of investigation which has reason to collect desired data. Meanwhile, it is known as a method of
primary based research in order to interpret the findings on the basis of opinion gathered by
participants. However, the technique of questionnaire can be known as a type of written
interview which can be carried out via telephone, face to face, computer or post. Additionally,
this method is consider widely as it is cheap, quick and effective way of collecting information
from a large sample of individuals.
Observational study can be explained as a type of qualitative research which can be
easily controlled by investigator due its naturalistic criterion. It is method of conducting study in
very careful and systematic manner which is very important phenomena under psychological
research. Meanwhile, this process of study has an objective of describing as well as identifying a
variable or even a set of variable which plays an important to conduct entire study in appropriate
way. Moreover, it can be utilised as a precursor in context of other kinds which are responsible
for focussing on single problems of investigation.
3

Laboratory experiments refers to a wide type of study which consist specific procedure
along with number of methods to be used. It incudes the series of experiments based on specified
principles and this kinds of investigation is mostly used in science. However, it focusses on
controlling the group of individuals as well as variables in which the entire experiment should
remain free of extraneous information as possible. This can be consider as an important element
which help psychologist in terms of repeating the experiment that is known to be single
requirement of reliable investigation. It consist the another principles of consistency of
measurements which permitting different standards makes impossible replication along with
unreliable results.
Survey can be defined as a kind of 'shotgun' approach in terms of carrying out
investigation. This kinds of study is mostly dependent on information which is self reported so
that it is consider to be highly subjective. Meanwhile, surveys are responsible involving number
of subjects and it is qualitative research along with using random sampling of selected subjects.
However, it has been analysed that survey is known to be only a kind of research related to
psychology where investigator utilise factor of randomness respectively (Turtle, 2019).
Moreover, survey is consider as an experimental method of study ion psychology but the
samples are carefully selected for further analysis.
Content analysis refers to the type of psychological study which focus on media
including radio, television, print and another in terms of repetition of particular phrases, ideas or
words. It includes the the utilisation of quantitative method along with employing mathematical
information related to concepts for studying aspects including stereotyping or several prospects
of cultures like sexuality. This types of investigation is known to be valuable in context of
advertising and it can be also utilised for predicting behaviour in particular populations.
TASK 3
3.1 Evaluate the importance of ethical issues raised within psychological research
In terms of psychological research, it is possible that issue related to ethical principles
can be raised related to confidentiality, truthfulness, autonomy, informed consent, maleficence
and beneficence. It is essential to follow these factors while carry out psychological
investigation. However, it is necessary for researcher to focus on certain important aspects which
may raise ethical issues. Meanwhile, it involves protection from harm, right to withdraw,
4

debriefing, deception and many more, it is very important for investigator to consider these
actors in order to conduct psychological study in ethical manner correctly.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that it is required to provide information to
participants about purpose of study, procedures of investigation and benefit of research for the
society. It is important for researcher to respondents aware about possible physical and
psychological risk in the entire process before participating in investigation. However, it is
essential for an investigator to make sure that entire process of research will not be caused
distress to the individuals participating in the same. Meanwhile, the researcher should maintain
privacy and confidentiality of data related to respondents. In addition to this, the factors of
deception is required to be consider by researcher such as deliberate misleading and deception of
omission. Moreover, the ethical issues can be raised if participants are not allowed to withdraw
from the study as per their own convenience. They have a right to withdraw from the process
then investigator should not pressurise them to complete the entire process.
CONCLUSION
From the above assignment, it has been concluded that psychology can be described as a
study of behaviours and mind of an individual in scientific manner. It includes various
psychological approaches including psychodynamic and cognitive which has number of
differences along with similarities.
5

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Mangal, S.K., 2019. An introduction to psychology. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Weis, R., 2017. Introduction to abnormal child and adolescent psychology. Sage publications.
Ornstein, P.H., 2018. Introduction: The evolution of Heinz Kohut’s psychoanalytic psychology
of the self. In The search for the self (pp. 1-106). Routledge.
Shibutani, T., 2017. Society and Personality: Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology.
Routledge.
Ellis, A.W. and Beattie, G., 2017. The psychology of language and communication. Routledge.
Turtle, A.M., 2019. Introduction: A silk road for psychology. In Psychology moving east (pp. 1-
21). Routledge.
6