Skills

Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology

14 weeks · 3 milestones

How psychologists study the mind, and what they have found. Course 1 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG, College Applications, Career

Milestone map

3 milestones

Map the field and its methods

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Read OpenStax chapters 1 and 2 and watch the first Open Yale lectures. Self-check: chapter 1 review questions. Then make a one-page map of psychology's main fields, each with one classic study and how it was run.

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a one-page map of psychology's main fields, each with one classic study and how it was run, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each field has a real study, cited.
Each study's method is named correctly.
It is in your own words.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A one-page map of psychology's main fields, each with one classic study and how it was run.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each field has a real study, cited.
Each study's method is named correctly.
It is in your own words.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Replicate a classic demo on open data

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Work through the MIT 9.00SC sessions on memory and perception. Self-check: MIT 9.00SC final exam. Then make a notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data.

Proof required

Link the public repo with a notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data: the notebook, the data (or a link to the open dataset) and a README saying what it shows.

What gets checked

The effect and its original study are named.
The analysis runs from the README.
The result is compared with the original finding.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The effect and its original study are named.
The analysis runs from the README.
The result is compared with the original finding.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Pass the final and explain one finding

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Finish the course and take the Saylor PSYCH101 final exam. Self-check: Saylor PSYCH101 final exam. Then make a 5-minute talk on one finding you found surprising, and how strong the evidence for it is.

Proof required

Name the people who heard a 5-minute talk on one finding you found surprising, and how strong the evidence for it is and add the slides and the recording or their written questions.

What gets checked

The finding and its studies are named.
The strength of the evidence is judged, not assumed.
At least two questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on one finding you found surprising, and how strong the evidence for it is.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The finding and its studies are named.
The strength of the evidence is judged, not assumed.
At least two questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology →

Related outcomes

All outcomes

Skills

Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology

14 weeks · 3 milestones

How psychologists study the mind, and what they have found. Course 1 of the Varsity Curriculum: Psychology. Free sources only. Foundations only. Not a clinical or counselling qualification.

Part of: Psychology · Proves for: UG, College Applications, Career

Milestone map

3 milestones

Map the field and its methods

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo or shared document with a one-page map of psychology's main fields, each with one classic study and how it was run, with every source cited.

What gets checked

Each field has a real study, cited.
Each study's method is named correctly.
It is in your own words.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A one-page map of psychology's main fields, each with one classic study and how it was run.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Each field has a real study, cited.
Each study's method is named correctly.
It is in your own words.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Replicate a classic demo on open data

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Work through the MIT 9.00SC sessions on memory and perception. Self-check: MIT 9.00SC final exam. Then make a notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data.

Proof required

Link the public repo with a notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data: the notebook, the data (or a link to the open dataset) and a README saying what it shows.

What gets checked

The effect and its original study are named.
The analysis runs from the README.
The result is compared with the original finding.

Common mistakes

Results the files cannot reproduce.
A summary of the reading instead of your own work.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that re-analyses one classic effect from the Many Labs 1 open data.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Make a public repo.
Build the smallest version that works, then check it.
Write a README: the question, the method, what you found, the limits.
Ask someone who knows psychology to check it.

Template

README
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Data (source, n, how it was collected):
Method:
Result:
Limits:

What gets sent back

No data or no code.
Data from people that breaks the rules above.
Copied work with no history.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The effect and its original study are named.
The analysis runs from the README.
The result is compared with the original finding.
Do the files produce what the README says?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Pass the final and explain one finding

5 weeks (about 6 hrs/week)

Proof required

Name the people who heard a 5-minute talk on one finding you found surprising, and how strong the evidence for it is and add the slides and the recording or their written questions.

What gets checked

The finding and its studies are named.
The strength of the evidence is judged, not assumed.
At least two questions are answered.

Common mistakes

Reading slides aloud with no questions taken.
Claims with no study behind them.

Powstik Guide

A 5-minute talk on one finding you found surprising, and how strong the evidence for it is.

Steps

Read the linked chapter and take the self-check.
Plan the talk or poster around one question.
Present it to at least two people who know some psychology.
Write down their questions and your answers.

Template

Plan
Course 1: Introduction to Psychology
Question:
Studies I cite:
What I expect to be asked:

What gets sent back

Nobody heard it.
No sources.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

The finding and its studies are named.
The strength of the evidence is judged, not assumed.
At least two questions are answered.
Did the person explain it in their own words and answer a question?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology →