Statistics in Psychology
(i) Basic statistical concepts in psychological research: descriptive and inferential statistics.
(ii) Correlation and correlation coefficient.
(iii) Measures of central tendency and variability - their application.
(iv) Frequency distribution, the normal probability curve and its significance, skewness.
Individual Differences and Psychological Testing
(i) Characteristics of a psychological test - validity, reliability, norms.
(ii) Scales: Age Scale, Percentile scores, T-scores, Standard scores.
(iii) Intelligence: what is meant by intelligencetheories regarding the nature of intelligence; how intelligence is measured - the concept of IQ, intelligence tests - Stanford Binet, Wechsler, Group Tests, Culture Fair Tests; levels of intelligence (from gifted through average to below average) and their implications.
(iv) Aptitude, Achievement and Interest: meaning of these terms. Reasons for their assessment and means of assessment (different tools/tests) used.
Personality
(i) What is meant by Personality; traits and types of personality.
(ii) Theories of Personality: Psychoanalytic Theory - Freud's structure of personality;
psycho-sexual stages of development; neo Freudians (in brief); Humanistic - Rogers and
Maslow; Traits - Allport, Cattell; Social/Behavioural Learning - Bandura and Rotter.
(iii) How personality is assessed: reports, inventories (MMPI), projective techniques-
Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Apperception Test.
Stress and Stress Management
(i) Meaning of stress - its basic nature.
(ii) Common causes of stress.
(iii) Effects of stress on health and performance.
(iv) Stress management - ineffective and effective ways of handling stress.
Psychological Disorders and Psychotherapy
(i) Meaning of “Abnormal behaviour” - biological, psychological and socio-cultural perspectives. Principles of classification of psychological disorders with reference to DSM IV.
(ii) Characteristics and causes of psychological disorders: Anxiety - generalised, phobic, obsessive-compulsive; Mood - bi-polar, depression; dissociative - amnesia, multiple personality; personality - anti-social, histrionic, avoidant, dependent, passiveaggressive; Eating - bulimia, anorexia; Substance use - alcohol, tobacco, drugs disorders.
(iii) Schizophrenia - meaning; main types; characteristics and origins (in brief).
(iv) Psychotherapy - Psychoanalysis; Client - centred; Behavioural.
Social Thought and Social Behaviour
(i) Social Perception - attribution or the process through which people try to understand the reasons for others' behaviour.
(ii) Social Influence - how people try to change others' behaviour; social norms; conformity and obedience - factors affecting them.
Attitudes
(i) Meaning of “Attitude” - relationship between attitude, perception, belief and behaviour; how attitudes are formed and changed.
(ii) Prejudice - meaning of “prejudice” and discrimination; the origins of prejudice; how to combat prejudice.
Applications of Psychology
With reference to:
(i) School;
(ii) Choice of Career;
(iii) Industry;
(iv) Crime;
(v) Marriage.
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