Introduce to psychology

Introduction to Psychology Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name January 5, 2025 Assignment 1 – Question 1 The scientific method refers to the systematic approach of organizational behavior and psychology, which seeks specific results instead of assuming certain ones. In this case, the research question is whether exercise leads to happiness. If we utilized the five steps of the science method in psychology to scrutinize this relation, there are observations: psychologists may see a connection between the two. Steps in Research Step 1: Observing Some Phenomenon The first process is defining an observation or an occurrence for which one would want to know more. The research question is: "Does exercise improve a person's happiness?". Psychologists might have heard firsthand or read other research that reported a connection between exercise and mood. For instance, those who exercise today reveal they have less stress and are happier than those who do not exercise at all. Thus, the practitioners call for a search for the causal connection and preemandation of the processes that operate therein. Step 2: Hypothesis Formulation and Prediction Making In this step, psychologists develop the hypothesis — a research statement that offers the foundation for testing in response to the research question. The hypothesis for this study might be: "Taking exercise regularly raises the pilot's or the subject individual's level of happiness." This is not a research question but a hypothesis, a straightforward statement that can be directly tested. In this respect, the independent variable (IV) is defined by the operationalization of the hypothesis as the frequency and duration of physical exercise. For example, in the experimental group, the subjects could engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise thrice a week. DV is the level of happiness that can be assessed using the Self-rated Subjective Happiness Scale, which is valid and reliable. These variables are defined very well to make the study empirical and possible to replicate it. Step 3: Testing Through Empirical Research In this step, an experiment is conducted to try to support the hypothesis that has been formed. In this case, psychologists may use the most rigorous research design known as a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants would be randomly assigned to one of two groups: * Experimental group: Participants perform an exercise routine, for example, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise three times a week for four weeks. * Control group: Candidates keep their sedentary behavior level or perform the inactive control intervention, which implies no exercises performed; for example, watch a lecture on the effects of exercise. Random assignment also minimizes bias due to age, gender, and fitness level by making the distribution of the variability almost similar in the groups. To measure happiness (the DV), the participants take a pre-test using the SHS to set a baseline. In the post-test, they are asked again questions regarding changes in their happiness at the end of the intervention period. Such distinctions are important; for example, happiness is defined as participants' SHS scores, and exercise is defined more specifically by the activity's duration, frequency, and intensity. Step 4: Drawing Conclusions After data is collected, psychologists examine the data and compare them with the hypothesis to see if the results match. As the study design consists of pre-and post-test intervention, change from pre- to post-test; happiness scores may be compared between the two conditions using a paired-sample t-test or, if conducted in different groups, analysis of variance (ANOVA). However, more than just the statistical significance is considered when making conclusions. These possibilities raise other issues that psychologists must now consider, namely how to avoid fallacious reasoning and various types of confounding and assess whether any person-based measure is appropriate for the sample. Step 5: Evaluating the Theory The last activity is conceptualizing and evaluating the empirical study's outcome within the psychological research framework. Psychologists assess how well the results corroborate the theories; for example, the views posit that exercise frees endorphins and enhances moods. They also judge the study's reliability and validity by pushing for replication. For example, other researchers may study with different individuals or change the kind, length, or frequency of exercise to substantiate the findings. Further, the findings encourage research that seeks to answer other questions related to the studied phenomenon. For instance, the effects of types of exercise like yoga and weight training may differ from those of aerobic exercise on self-reported happiness or may vary as a function of age, gender, culture, and so on. Psychologists can help create best practices for encouraging mental health by becoming increasingly precise in formulating the theory and sharing the results through academic journals or educational health campaigns. Conclusion The research question, "does physical exercise increase happiness?" is systematically examined through the five steps of psychology's scientific method. From the phenomenon observation to theory assessment, step-by-step guarantees the empiricism of the conclusions. All these research elements, such as the hypothesis, operational definitions, research methods, and statistical analysis, help respond to this question. Finally, cognate research not only contributes to enhancing the knowledge about the psychological effect of exercise but also offers potentially utilizable lessons for the betterment of the health fortunes of society. Assignment 1 – Question 2 Brain imaging methods are research instruments that help map the human brain's physical/structural and functional/ physiological nature. These tools are essential in identifying the neural substrates related to cognition, behavior, and psychological disorders. Using pictures, researchers, and clinicians can observe how certain brain parts react to specific tasks or stimuli, for example, picture identification and getting a snapshot into the brain's functioning and cognition. Brain Imaging Approaches Various brain imaging techniques are used in psychological and neuroscientific research; each has different roles and benefits. Common techniques include: 1 Electroencephalography (EEG): This method measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. While EEG provides excellent temporal resolution, its spatial resolution is limited. 2 Positron Emission Tomography (PET): PET scans track metabolic activity using radioactive tracers, enabling researchers to examine functional aspects of the brain. 3 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI produces detailed images of brain structures but does not measure activity. 4 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): This technique measures changes in blood flow related to neural activity, offering high spatial resolution for studying active brain regions. 5 Computed Tomography (CT): CT scans use X-rays to create cross-sectional brain images, primarily for structural analysis. 6 Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT): Similar to PET, SPECT assesses blood flow or metabolism with lower resolution. Each technique has its applications and limitations, and choosing a method is critical depending on the research objective. Suggested Technique: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Picture identification requires functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) since it is the best method to measure the bold signal indirectly in the brain. That is when a given part of the brain demands more oxygen and thus is detected by fMRI. Then, the areas involved in the cognitive functions, such as visual acknowledgment, are established. Suitability of fMRI to Picture Identification The choice of fMRI for this study is particularly appropriate because of its unique capacity to provide exquisite spatial resolution of brain activity. Picture identification provoked areas of the brain involved in visual processing, such as the occipital lobe, face recognition area of the fusiform gyrus, and spatial area of the parietal lobe. Identifying such areas using fMRI can show their roles and interconnections during the cogni...