|
Introduction to Applied
Psychology -
A/Prof Bernd ROHRMANN
Selected notes for IAP students - Lectures in 2000 - SESSIONS 1, 2,
12
only
Note: These are not full lecture notes, rather lists of
keywords
and main issues dealt with
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Introduction to Applied Psychology: LIST OF CONTENTS
1 TOPICS OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
1.1 Main "applied" fields/domains
1.2 Links to "basic" psychology
1.3 History of applied research
2 EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES OF APPLIED
PSYCHOLOGY
2.1 Basic vs applied research
2.2 Types of knowledge
2.3 Research approaches
2.4 Example: Noise research
3 APPLICABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF APPLIED
PSYCHOLOGY
3.1 Reception of 'real world' problems
3.2 Application vs. applicability
3.3 Dissemination of findings
1 TOPICS OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
1.1 Main "applied" fields/domains
-
all principal areas of psychology contain "applied" issues
-
most specific psychology fields based on "applied" problems
A LIST OF LABELS ...
Animal Psychology
Applied Social Psychology
Biological Psychology
Child Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Community Psychology
Consumer Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Cultural Psychology
Educational Psychology
Environmental Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Geriatric Psychology
Health Psychology
Human Factors Psychology
Human/Computer Interaction
Industrial Psychology
Law Psychology
Marketing Psychology
Mathematical Psychology
Military Psychology
Neuropsychology
Occupational Psychology
Organizational Psychology
Personnel Psychology
Personality Psychology
Political Psychology
Psychoacoustics
Psycholinguistics
Psychopathology
Psychophysiology
Sports Psychology
Traffic Psychology
Work Psychology
etc
etc
"Applied Psychology" = ...?
the application of psychological
- theories
- empirical knowledge
- methods/techniques
to practical problems of everyday life
APPLIED AREAS REPRESENTED AS PROFESSIONAL COURSES IN THE DoP
-
Clinical Psychol.
-
Neuropsychol.
-
Child Psychol.
-
Health Psychol.
-
Industrial/Org. Ps.
-
Forensic Ps
1.2 Links to "basic" psychology
-
Applied fields require knowledge from basic Psychology
-
Insights from applied research feed general theories
LINKS BASIC<-->APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
=> each applied field draws from the four core areas of
basic
psychology, i.e.
General Ps.
Developmental Ps.
Personality Ps.
Social Ps.
and has links to Psychophysiology
DUALISM IN PSYCHOLOGY
THREE KINDS OF LABELING:
basic <--> applied
theory-centered <--> problem-centered
theoretical <--> practical
=> "scientist-practitioner model"
1.3 History of applied research
'PATH-LEADING' ANTECEDENTS:
> Outside pychology: FECHNER, GALTON, CHARCOT, ...
> Within psychology: WUNDT, JAMES, SPEARMAN, ...
ESTABLISHING THE LABEL
1903, 1912 Concept "Psychotechnics" (STERN;
MUENSTERBERG)
1907 First journal for "Applied" psychology (GERMANY)
1914 First article with title "Applied psychol." (MUENSTERBERG)
FIRST INSTITUTES OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
1906 Institute for Applied Psychology in Berlin (STERN)
1908 Division "Applied Psychol." at Harvard U (MUENSTERBERG)
1912 Rousseau Institute (Switzerland - CLAPAREDE)
<1896 Psychological Clinic, U of Pennsylvania (WITMER)>
FIRST JOURNALS FOR APPLIED RESEARCH
-
Germany 1907: Z.f.A.P. (J. for Applied Psychology)
-
USA 1917: Journal of Applied Psychology
EARLY "APPLIED" RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY
-
ROMANES 1884 (England) : Reading comprehension test
-
OEHRN 1886 (Germany): Effect of monotony on mentalwork
-
McK-CATTELL 1890 (USA): Mental testing
-
FREUD 1890 (Austria): Psycho-analysis as therapy
-
KRAEPELIN 1892 (Germany): Pioneering Pharmacology
-
MOSSO 1991 (Italy): Investigations on fatigue
-
BINET 1894 (France): Exp.'s on memory performance
-
EBBINGHAUS 1897 (Germany): Studies on memorization
-
CLAPAREDE 1902 (Switz.): Method of spoken reflection
-
KRAEPELIN 1902 (Germany): "The working curve"
-
SCOTT 1903 (USA): Theory of advertising
-
SPEARMAN 1904 (Engl.): Analysis of mental tests
-
BINET & SIMON 1905 (France): Intelligence test f. schools
-
STERN 1907 (Germany): Testing childrens development
-
MEUMANN 1907 (Germany): Classroom research
-
MUENSTERBERG 1908 (Germany): Work on lie detectors
-
HELLPACH 1911(Germany): Geo-psyche (env. psych. )
-
STRATTON 1911 (USA): Eye movements
-
MARBE 1911(Germany): Investigation of accidents
-
STERN 1912 (Germany): Concept of "IQ"
-
MUENSTERBERG 1913 (Germany): Psychol. of advertising
-
MUENSTERBERG 1913 (Germany): Testing tram drivers
-
MOEDE 1914 (Germany): Psychophysics of work
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BINGHAM 1915 (USA): Profess. training progr. (Carnegy UoT)
-
MUENSTERBERG 1917 (Germany): Legal psychology
-
WATSON 1918 (USA) "Experimental neurosis" - little Albert
2 EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
2.1 Basic vs applied research
BASIC PSYCHOLOGY
-
principal insights into human behavior
-
development of general explanations
-
focus on theories (creation & examination)
APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
-
induced & driven by problems "in the real world"
-
utilizing scientific knowledge for psychological tasks
-
aim: understanding and solving practical problems
2.2 Types of knowledge
-
knowledge about facts
-
nomological knowledge
-
technological knowledge
>> linked to four principal aims of research:
description, explanation, prediction,
alteration
2.3 Methodological approaches
EPISTEMOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY
-
Phenomenological
-
Behavioral
-
Cognitive
-
Psychoanalytic
-
Biological
-
Humanistic
-
... ... ...
> methodological and ideological principles usually
intertwined
RESEARCH APPROACHES IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
> same set of means/techniques as in other fields
> however, different emphasis - higher relevance of ...
-
descriptive (non-experimental) design
-
field studies
-
population samples
-
longitudinal observations
-
multivariate data
> measurement instruments to be problem-taylored
> interdisciplinary approaches essential
2.4 Example: Noise research
NOISE SOURCES
Transportation: road, railways, aircrafts, ships, ...
Production: factories, construction sites, workshops, ...
Leisure activities: sports, hobbies, music, ...
EXPOSURE:
at home, at the workplace, while commuting, during leisure
CORE PROBLEMS TO BE CLARIFIED:
> What exposure to noise occurs when & where?
> Which social/psychol./somatic impairments arise?
> Is the noise exposure causal for the observed effects?
> At which exposure levels are impacts getting 'critical'?
> Which protection measures can be employed?
> Are noise abatement efforts effective over time?
FEATURES OF STUDIES ON NOISE
-
vast amount of empirical research conducted since 1925
-
utilization of a multitude of methods
-
collaboration across psychology fields (e.g. ...) and interdisciplinary
coop (e.g. ...) indispensable
-
clear-cut conclusions often not (yet) available
-
crucial societal/political context for application of findings
3 APPLICABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
3.1 (Mis)Perception of 'real world' problems
-
Problem conceptualization
-
Gap between perspectives of researcher & client
3.2 Application vs. applicability
> Preconditions for utilization
-
Re: User
-
Re: Researcher
-
Re: Problem
> Conclusions for "applied" psychology
3.3 Dissemination of findings
> Impacts of communication means
The "HOW" issue
-
academic language
-
level of methological rigor
-
type of recommendations
The "WHERE" issue
-
scientific publications in journals/books
-
technical reports
-
contributions to congresses
-
presentations at organizations/companies
-
participation in pertinent committees
> Implications for "applied" psychologists
-
where to publish
-
how to report
-
when to go public
<<END>>
