PSYCHOLOGY-I

FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY

1. Introduction  Research designs 

 Sampling 
 Definition of  
 Tools of data collection 
 Historical antecedents of  & 
 Analysis & Interpretation 
 Trends in 21st century 
 Report writing 
  & scientific methods 
 Fundamental versus Applied
  in relation to other social research 
sciences & natural sciences   Methods of data collection
 Application of  to societal  Interview 
problems   Observation 
2. Methods of   Questionnaire 
 Case study 
 Types of Research   Research design
 Descriptive   Ex-post facto 
 Evaluative   Experimental 
 Diagnostic   Application of statistical
 Prognostic  techniques
 Methods of Research   T-test 
 Survey   Two-way ANOVA 
 Observation   Correlation 
 Case study   Regression 
 Experiments   Factor analysis 
 Characteristics of  Item response theory 
 Experimental design & 
 Non-experimental design  4. Development of Human behavior
 Quasi-experimental designs   Growth and development 
 Focused group discussions   Principles of development 
 Brain storming   Role of
 Grounded theory approach   Genetic & 
 Environmental factors in
3. Research Method
determining human behavior 
 Major steps in psychological  Influence of cultural factors in
research socialization 
 Problem statement   Life span development
 Hypothesis formulation   Characteristics 
  Development tasks   Discrimination 
 Promoting psychological well-  Generalization 
being across major stages of  Programmed learning 
the life span   Probability learning 
 Self instructional learning 
5. Sensation, Attention & Perception
 Concepts, types and schedules of
 Sensation:  Reinforcement 
 Concepts of threshold   Escape 
 Absolute &   Avoidance 
 Difference thresholds   Punishment 
 Signal-detention & vigilance   Modeling & 
 Factors influencing attention  Social learning 
including
7. Memory
 Set & 
 Characteristics of stimulus   Encoding and remembering 
 Definition of Perception   Short-term memory 
 Concept of Perception   Long-term memory 
 Biological factors in Perception   Sensory memory 
 Perceptual organization-influence  Iconic memory 
of past experiences   Echoic memory 
 Perceptual defense-factors  Multistore model 
influencing  Levels of processing 
 Space & depth perception   Organization & mnemonic
 Size estimation &  technique to improve memory 
 Perceptual readiness   Theories of forgetting
 The plasticity of perception   Decay 
 Extrasensory perception   Interference & 
 Culture & perception   Retrieval failure 
 Subliminal perception   Metamemory 
 Amnesia 
6. Learning
 Anterograde & 
 Concepts & theories of learning  Retrograde 
 Behaviourists 
8. Thinking & Problem solving
 Gestaltalist 
 Information processing models  Piaget’s theory of cognitive
 development 
 Processes of  Concept formation processes 
 Extinction 
  Information processing, reasoning  Aptitude 
& problem solving   Concept of IQ 
 Facilitating and hindering factors  Deviation IQ 
in problem solving   Constancy of IQ 
 Methods of problem solving   Measurement of multiple
 Creative thinking & fostering intelligence 
creativity   Fluid intelligence & 
 Factors influencing decision  Crystallized intelligence 
making & judgment 
11. Personality
 Recent trends 
 Definition and concept of
9. Motivation & Emotion
personality 
 Psychological & physiological basis  Theories of personality
of motivation & emotion   Psychoanalytical 
 Measurement of motivation &  Socio-cultural 
emotion   Interpersonal 
 Effects of motivation & emotion on  Developmental 
behavior   Humanistic 
 Extrinsic motivation &   Behaviouristic 
 Intrinsic motivation   Trait & type approaches 
 Factors influencing intrinsic  Measurement of personality
motivation   Projective test 
 Emotional competence & related  Pencil Paper test 
issues   Indian approach to personality 
 Training for personality
10. Intelligence & Aptitude
development 
 Concept of intelligence &   Latest approaches like
 Concept of Aptitude   Big 5 factor theory 
 Nature & theories of intelligence:  Notion of self in different
 Spearman  traditions 
 Thurstone 
12. Attitudes, Values & Interests
 Gulford Vernon 
 Sternberg   Definition of
 J. P. Das   Attitudes 
 Emotional intelligence   Values 
 Social intelligence   Interest 
 Measurement of  Components of attitudes 
 Intelligence & 
  Formation & maintenance of  Dreams 
attitudes   Stimulus deprivation 
 Measurements of  Meditation 
 Attitudes   Hypnotic/drug induced states 
 Values   Extra-sensory perception 
 Interests   Inter-sensory perception 
 Theories of Attitude changes   Simulation studies 
 Strategies for fostering Values 
 Formation of Stereotypes &
prejudices 
 Changing other’s behavior 
 Theories of Attribution 
 Recent trends 

13. Language & Communication

 Human language
 Properties 
 Structure & 
 Linguistic hierarchy 
 Language acquisition
 Predispotion 
 Critical period hypothesis 
 Theories of Language development
 Skinner 
 Chomsky 
 Process and types of
communication 
 Effective Communication training

14. Issues & perspectives in modern

contemporary 

 Computer application in the

psychological laboratory &
psychological testing 
 Artificial Intelligence 
 Psychocybernetics 
 Study of Consciousness sleep-wake
schedules 