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