Introduction to Psychology

Intended for introductory and general psychology courses. In this text, the author shows students that questioning assertions, challenging evidence, and evaluating results, all components of the scientific method, are second nature to the study of psychology itself. As a result, students are introduced to psychology in a way that should remain with them long after they may have forgotten specific theories, experiments or results. He uses the scientific method as a consistent theme throughout the book, beginning early on (Chapter 2) with a conceptual discussion of how psychologists think; he also introduces the four steps involved in gathering and evaluating evidence, hypothesis, method, results, and interpretation. This four step procedure is re-emphasized throughout the book in the context of specific experiments and research. To give maximum flexibility to the instructor, each chapter is divided into two-to-five freestanding modules. This organization enables instructors to pick and choose assigned reading to meet their own course syllabi.