milestone final

PSY 108 Module One 1

Psychology is a topic that applies to everyone because it is all about what makes us tick. It

takes a holistic view that encompasses the interaction of the brain, genetics, environment,

and the overall human experience to mold us into who we are and influence how we behave.

In this class, you will look at psychology as it relates to individuals, families, groups, and

communities. You will complete a project in which you choose a particular problem from

those presented in the text and identify a potential solution that incorporates relevant

psychological theories. You will be provided with reference material, and the SNHU Shapiro

Library psychology databases are an excellent source of studies for your final project if you

would like to incorporate additional references.

This module is important because you will choose the lens through which you view the

material in the upcoming modules. You will find more information in the Final Project

Guidelines and Rubric located on the Final Project page. Module One also introduces an

important concept: challenging scientific claims. Just because you see something in the

news that is attributed to a study does not mean that the headline is factual. Writers and

editors routinely create headlines to draw clicks, even if that means emphasizing one small

part that does not properly represent the overall information.

The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied published a study, Reports on Applied

Experimental Psychology Findings From University of Bristol Provide New Insights (The

Effects of Subtle Misinformation in News Headlines), on how misleading headlines stick with

readers after they read an article, and the misinformation stays with them as fact.

In this study, the researchers created two articles and two contradictory headlines for each.

The content was identical and both headlines were technically true, depending on which

facts were focused on and how they were interpreted. One article was headlined “Number of

burglaries going up,” and the other was “Downward trend in burglary rate.” The second, a

purported opinion piece, was titled “GM foods may pose long-term health risks” in one case

and “GM foods are safe” in another. When subjects were later tested on the articles’ content,

the headline influenced their recollection and their responses reflected the headlines’ bias.

2 PSY 108 Module One

You have probably heard that strange things happen more often during a full moon. It is

often stated as fact because “police get more calls during the full moon” or “emergency

rooms are busier.” In Module One, you will look objectively at whether that is really true while

you review some resources to help you test scientific claims and come to your own

conclusions.

Keep this foundation in mind as you go through the modules and gather resources to

support your final project. You will use research to confirm the problem and to support your

potential solutions. Apply your critical-thinking skills and the information you learn in this

module to assess study validity and ensure that you back up your contentions with solid

facts.

As you go through the course, think about how psychology applies to your life and career

goals. As you learn about psychological theories and where they fit into research and

practical application, you will see parallels in your own experience and the world around you.

You will also see how psychology applies in the workplace, no matter what job you hold.

If you are planning to go into psychology as a career, SNHU’s Career Development Center

has helpful resources on various career options, including the degree and experience

requirements. Some require only a BA/BS degree, while others require an MA/MS, and

certain classes may be required to meet licensure requirements. At the highest level, you will

need a doctorate (PhD or PsyD) or even a medical degree.

You will also look at psychology-related careers in more depth in the final module of this

class, where you will see how all eight weeks tie together with psychology theory and

application. The American Psychological Association (2013) has five goals it emphasizes for

undergraduate studies:

1. Gaining a knowledge base in psychology

2. Learning about scientific inquiry and how to apply critical-thinking skills

3. Social responsibility and maintaining ethics

4. Communication

5. Professional development

You will touch on all five of the guidelines in this course, so watch for related material as you

go through your studies over the next eight weeks.

PSY 108 Module One 3

Reference

American Psychological Association. (2013). Learning goals & outcomes: APA guidelines for the

undergraduate psychology major version 2.0. Retrieved from

http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/about/learning-goals.pdf