Nature of Science FPLC Tran-Nguyen 2006-7
From CTLpedia
Nature of Science FPLC, Ly T. L. Tran-Nguyen, Psychology, Mesa Community College, Contact me (mailto:lytran@mail.mc.maricopa.edu)
Sumary: My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary. My project summary.
Nature of Psychology as an Empirical Science
What makes psychology a science? Psychology as an empirical science attempts to understand and explain behavior and mental processes through research. Many research methods are available to psychologists including nonexperimental/descriptive and experimental research methods. Psychologists strive for objectivity in the research they conduct and data they collect to support their claims, but many aspects that relate to mental processes (i.e., motivation, craving, thoughts, etc.) are hypothetical constructs. In other words, they are subjective experiences that cannot be measured directly, but can be logically inferred through observations and measurements of behavior.
The research questions selected for investigation in psychological science can be influenced by the social, cultural and historical milieu and generally involve a collective effort by many psychologists. As a behavioral science, psychology produces explanations about natural world phenomenon that are empirically-based, logical, testable, verifiable, creative, theory-laden, durable, tentative, collaborative, and cummulative.
Project Goals and Objectives
1. To understand what the Nature of Science (NOS) means for psychology. 2. To understand the commonality of NOS across various disciplines. 3. To reflect on how I incorporate NOS into courses I teach. 4. To examine ways to explicitly teach students about NOS.
What are the science/math courses I currently teach?
- PSY101: Introduction to Psychology
- PSY230/31: Introduction to Statistics (Lecture and Lab)
- PSY290: Research Methods (Lecture and Lab)
- PSY293: Biological Psychology
Project Rationale
Psychology is considered to be a behavioral science; however, many students and lay people have a misconception that this field of study is limited to the counseling of patients. To dispel this misconception, I would like to explicitly teach the nature of psychology as a science (NOPS) in my courses. This task would require that I have a better understanding of the NOS in general and more specifically what the NOS is for psychology as a behavioral science. Through my participation with the Nature of Science FPLC and readings, I hope to gain a better understanding of the NOS for psychology and other science disciplines and to share teaching strategies with my FPLC colleagues.
Project Implementation and Assessment Methods
In conjunction with my Kaleidoscope project, I am initally exploring ways to better teach NOPS in my research methods class. This course consists of a lecture and lab. Students are taught the theoretical knowledge and research strategies in psychology in the lecture section. Then in the laboratory section, students are required to apply the knowledge they gain in lecture to complete an individual research project which they will develop, design, carry out, and present. The goal is to give students an accurate overview of how it would be to conduct actual psychological research and make public their research findings. My Kaleidoscope project will involve the review of my existing lab assignments and to modify and/or develop new assignments to explicitly each NOPS.
A Views of NOS (VNOS)survey was administered to students in PSY290 this spring (2007) during the first week of class as a premeasure. This survey consists of several questions from Lederman, Abd-El-Khalick, Bell, & Schwartz (2002) VNOS-C survey and several other experimenter-developed questions. Throughout the semester, assignments aimed at explicitly teaching the NOS will be incorporated in the laboratory section. At the end of the semester, the VNOS survey will again be administered to students to assess the effectiveness of these assignments on students' understanding of NOPS.
Project Results
Not yet available.
Project Results and Conclusions
Not yet available.
Examples of student work
Not yet available.
Reflection on My NOS FPLC Experience
I have been a part of the NOS FPLC since the pilot year (2005/6). Thus far, my experience with my NOS colleagues has been incredibly beneficial and enlightening. Prior to my participation in the NOS FPLC, I taught my science courses based on information from the course textbook and my educational/research background in behavioral neuroscience. Through the readings, discussions, and sharing sessions with my NOS colleagues, I have realized that many of the views of NOS depicted in current textbooks are not completely accurate. Even with a background in research, I was guilty of perpetuating some of the myths portrayed in these textbooks. Being a part of the NOS FPLC has helped me have a better understanding of NOS and has changed my way of teaching. My students are now receiving more accurate portrayals of the NOS through changes I have made in my lecture, classroom demonstrations, and assignments.
Annotated Reference List
- Lederman, N.G., Abd-El-Khalick, F., Bell, R.L., & Schwartz, R.S. (2002). Views of nature of science questionnaire: Toward valid and meaningful assessment of learners' conceptions of nature of science. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 39, 497-521.
