Engage with the pioneers of psychology and become familiar with the trajectory of the field from its beginning until now.

• Define psychology.
• Explain whether psychology is the study of the human mind or of human behavior.
• Outline how the fi eld of psychology has changed over the years.
• Identify the important issues and areas of specialization in psychology.

Consider the methods, tools, types of participants, and ethical practices used to study psychology and evaluate its scientific rigor.

• Explain what scientific methods are and why they are important.
• Evaluate whether it is better to study people in laboratories or in natural settings.
• Justify why psychologists devise subtle measures of behavior when they can just ask people about themselves.
• Describe the various types of research designs.
• Discuss the ethical concerns raised about using humans and animals in research.

Identify the major organizations and emerging branches in psychology, and explain the need to study a diverse group of people.

• List the major organizations in psychology.
• Identify the emerging branches of psychology.
• Explain why researchers study diversity.