This lecture provides an overview of the major research methods used by psychologists in their study of behavior and mental processes. Included among these are naturalistic and participant observation, survey designs, case studies, correlational designs and experimental designs. A brief description of each research design is provided, along with simple examples to aid in understanding the material.

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In this lecture we discuss the definition of psychology, the goals of psychology as well as a few of the various branches/subfields of the science. Psychology’s rich history is also covered in lecture 1, with emphasis placed on the different psychological schools of thought and special mention to some of the individuals who contributed most significantly to the development of psychology as a respected science today. Continue reading →