Psychology and Computers
Many people view psychology and computer try these out science as distinct fields with nothing in common. The prevailing view is that computer science has an extremely rigorous and quantitative research culture while psychological studies are rooted in more qualitative research into human behavior and perception.
In reality, a lot of the computer science that we have today is inspired by psychology. The design of technology interfaces ranging from car dashboards, to airplane cockpits as well as operating systems for computers to games controllers – is largely brought about by psychologists working closely with computer scientists. A large amount of psychological research requires sophisticated software to process huge data sets.
Psychologists are increasingly relying upon technology to expand their reach. While the traditional techniques for testing of psychology – examining the behavior of a specific individual in a controlled setting or assessing larger behavior patterns with self-report questionnaires and interviews are prone to limitations (experiments are limited to one study; longitudinal studies are rare because of the difficulties of collecting and analyzing large amounts of data).
The use of computer technology has opened new avenues to understand individuals behaviours. Computers are essential to the brain-imaging technology known as fMRI. Researchers can identify specific brain regions with cognitive processes such as memory or reading. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.
Additionally, the UK’s National Health Service now recognizes the CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as a treatment that is effective for moderate-to-moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI) is, on the other hand, is set to transform psychotherapy by replacing therapists and treating patients online using robots.