Chapter 1 Prep Guide
Question #1:
Compare/contrast the consumer and producer roles in psychological research.
List 2-3 types of consumers (e.g., therapist, educator, stand-up comic) and
describe some of the necessary skills to be good consumers of psychological research
A producer of psychological research is a scientist who conducts psychological
experiments and shares their findings with the community. This can look like someone
sitting in on multiple kindergarten classes and observing how the children’s behavior is
impacted by different teachers, or striving to learn more about the anatomy of our
brains. On the other hand, a consumer of psychological research is someone who reads
about the findings of producers. They are not the ones working in a lab, but rather those
who read psychological publications and apply those findings to benefit various aspects
of their lives. Different types of consumers may look like social workers, sales
representatives, and family therapists. Some of the necessary skills to be a competent
consumer include reading with an open mind and having an interest in learning more,
while also using a critical eye to ensure that the work you are reading is trustworthy. It is
important to be able to distinguish between high quality information and misleading
sets of “data.”
Question #2:
Describe the role of empiricism in psychological research. Define evidence-
based treatment. Do an internet search to identify a common treatment/product
that has little/no evidence to support its effectiveness. The example can be from
any field: e.g., therapies, drugs, vitamins, weight-loss/exercise fads, hair-care
products.
The role of empiricism in psychological research is using formal observations to answer
psychological questions. Evidence based treatment is a therapy(s) whose methods are
supported by research. One weight-loss dietary supplement that has little to no evidence
in support of its effectiveness is chitosan, a sugar made from the exo-skeleton of
shellfish. It claims to bind fat in the digestive tract, preventing its absorption. Most
studies on chitosan have been of very small duration and have not shown substantial
weight loss from its usage.
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 04:39:31 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251702959/Prep-Guide-1-Chloe-Whalen-Section-002pdf/
Question #1:
Compare/contrast the consumer and producer roles in psychological research.
List 2-3 types of consumers (e.g., therapist, educator, stand-up comic) and
describe some of the necessary skills to be good consumers of psychological research
A producer of psychological research is a scientist who conducts psychological
experiments and shares their findings with the community. This can look like someone
sitting in on multiple kindergarten classes and observing how the children’s behavior is
impacted by different teachers, or striving to learn more about the anatomy of our
brains. On the other hand, a consumer of psychological research is someone who reads
about the findings of producers. They are not the ones working in a lab, but rather those
who read psychological publications and apply those findings to benefit various aspects
of their lives. Different types of consumers may look like social workers, sales
representatives, and family therapists. Some of the necessary skills to be a competent
consumer include reading with an open mind and having an interest in learning more,
while also using a critical eye to ensure that the work you are reading is trustworthy. It is
important to be able to distinguish between high quality information and misleading
sets of “data.”
Question #2:
Describe the role of empiricism in psychological research. Define evidence-
based treatment. Do an internet search to identify a common treatment/product
that has little/no evidence to support its effectiveness. The example can be from
any field: e.g., therapies, drugs, vitamins, weight-loss/exercise fads, hair-care
products.
The role of empiricism in psychological research is using formal observations to answer
psychological questions. Evidence based treatment is a therapy(s) whose methods are
supported by research. One weight-loss dietary supplement that has little to no evidence
in support of its effectiveness is chitosan, a sugar made from the exo-skeleton of
shellfish. It claims to bind fat in the digestive tract, preventing its absorption. Most
studies on chitosan have been of very small duration and have not shown substantial
weight loss from its usage.
This study source was downloaded by 100000901307859 from CourseHero.com on 11-14-2025 04:39:31 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/251702959/Prep-Guide-1-Chloe-Whalen-Section-002pdf/
