Introduction to Psychology 1/IPSY101/Description

Foundations of Psychological Science

What's it about?

This course is the first of three micro-courses that jointly constitute the OERu Introduction to Psychology I course. It provides an introduction to the history of psychology, the methods used by psychological scientists, and the biological basis of human behaviour.

What will I learn?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

1. Explain why using our intuition about everyday behaviour is insufficient for a complete understanding of the causes of behaviour
2. Describe the evolution of psychological science
3. Outline the basic schools of psychology and how each school has contributed to psychology
4. Distinguish between clinical psychology, counselling psychology, and psychiatry
5. Describe the principles of the scientific method and explain its importance in conducting and interpreting research
6. Differentiate the goals of descriptive, correlational, and experimental research designs and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each
7. Explain the goals of descriptive research and the statistical techniques used to interpret it
8. Summarize the uses of correlational research and describe why correlational research cannot be used to infer causality
9. Review the procedures of experimental research and explain how it can be used to draw causal inferences
10. Describe the structure and functions of the neuron
11. Describe the pathways of communication within and between neurons
12. List the major neurotransmitters and describe their functions
13. Explain the structure of the cerebral cortex (its hemispheres and lobes) and the function of each area of the cortex
14. Compare and contrast the techniques that scientists use to view and understand brain structures and functions

What's involved?

• Completing readings and watching videos
• Completing e-tivities
• Writing an exam

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

What micro courses are required for course credit?

Learners are required to complete three micro-courses to gain credit for Introduction to Psychology 1:

1. Foundational of Psychological Science
2. Thinking, Learning, & Memory
3. Evolution, Perception, & Consciousness