Studying psychology

Read the text and get ready to speak about the methods psychologists use in their practice.

Explanation, disaster, to involve, to evaluate, accurate, committee, mind, fact, scientist, systematic.

1. a statement, fact or situation that gives a reason for smth;

2. a terrible situation or event;

3. to make smth necessary;

4. to study the facts and then form an opinion about smth;

5. exact and correct; without mistakes;

6. a group of people who have been chosen to discuss smth or decide smth;

7. a part of your brain that thinks and remembers;

8. something that you know has happened or is true;

9. a person who studies or teaches science;

10. done using a fixed plan or method.

12. Give the English equivalents to the following words and phrases:

человеческая психика, научный способ, повиновение, психологическая модель, этические ограничения, этический комитет, происходить, вовлекать, наблюдательное изучение, вводить в заблуждение, исследование, человеческий опыт, принять меры.

The study of psychology is rather different. Psychologists are interested in learning about the human mind but they know how easy it is to be misled into being certain about things which are not really true. So psychology involves a lot of very careful investigation and a lot of checking and looking at things in different ways, to make certain we are sure of what we are saying. That investigation has to happen very systematically and in a scientific manner.

Psychologists investigate psychological processes, such as how we acquire language, or how we remember things. They investigate human experiences, such as play or obedience to other people. They also develop psychological models – explanations for why things happen or how a psychological process occurs – which can help us to understand what is going on. Psychologists investigate many different aspects of human experience and psychological studies can range from exploring the factors that will help someone to survive in a disaster, to investigating how we learn to read.

Psychologists are very careful about the research methods they use, in order to make sure that they are gathering information which is as accurate as it can possibly be. Some psychologists use experiments, either in the laboratory or in real life. Some of them conduct observational studies. Some scientists work with the animals. And some psychologists conduct case studies to examine individuals in depth. Whichever methods they use all psychologists are concerned to ensure that they are systematic and scientific.

Psychology can be applied in many ways, and in many contexts. Professional psychologists operate under strict ethical constrains: there are many things they are simply not permitted to do, and many others which can only be undertaken if they have been discussed and evaluated fully by ethics committees, because it is possible to do a lot of damage by applying psychology in the wrong way or without really knowing what you are doing.

Studying psychology involves learning about psychological research and also about how psychology can be applied.

14. Answer the following questions:

1. What are psychologists interested in?

2. What is the main thing about conducting psychological research?

3. What do psychologists investigate?

4. There are different research methods, aren’t there? Name them.

5. Do psychologists develop psychological or physiological models?

6. Why are psychologists very careful about the research methods they use?

7. What committee evaluates psychological research methods?

15. Complete the following sentences:

1. The study of psychology involves a lot of …

2. That investigation has to happen …

3. Psychologists study such psychological processes as …

4. A psychological model is …

5. Psychologists investigate …

6. Scientists use the following research methods …

7. Professional psychologists operate under …

8. It is possible to do a lot of damage …

16. Agree or disagree with the following statements. In your arguments use: I quite agree with …; I don’t think so …; I can’t agree with …; on the contrary …; quite so …; exactly ….

1. Psychologists never conduct their investigation systematically.

2. Psychologists investigate different psychological processes.

3. Psychologists are very careful about the research methods they use.

4. There are many research methods.

5. Whichever methods they use all the psychologists are concerned to ensure they are systematic and scientific.

6. Professional psychologists never operate under strict ethical constrains.

7. It is possible to do a lot of harm by applying psychology in the wrong way.

17. Put in the right prepositions and postpositions where necessary*:

1. Psychologists are interested … learning … the human mind but they know how easy it is to be misled … being certain … things which are not really true.

2. Some psychologists use experiments, either … the laboratory or … real life.

3. Studying psychology involves learning … psychological research and also … how psychology can be applied.

4. Psychologists investigate many different aspects … human experience and psychological studies can range … exploring the factors that will help someone to survive … a disaster, to investigating how we learn to read.

5. Some scientists work … the animals.

6. And some psychologists conduct case studies to examine individuals … depth.

7. Professional psychologists operate … strict ethical constrains: there are many things they are simply not permitted to do, and many others which can only be undertaken if they have been discussed and evaluated fully … ethics committees, because it is possible to do a lot damage … applying psychology … the wrong way or … really knowing what you are doing.

18. Look through the given words. Choose a suitable word to put it into each gap:

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