We use various scientific methods to describe and explain the mechanisms of the human mind

Psychology is a discipline concerned with the scientific study of the human mind. Some of you might think that a psychologist can read people’s minds without much effort. The truth is, however, somewhat different. The goal of psychology is to reveal the mechanisms of the human mind. A psychologist does not arrive at a conclusion after much silent contemplation — instead, he or she has to find answers by collecting and scientifically analyzing data. This is the overall methodology of our discipline.
There are various methods of collecting data. Sometimes we register the brain activity of our subjects using cutting-edge measuring equipment. In other cases we travel as far as South America to directly observe and record the lives of local people. Experiments, surveys, interviews, observation – students of the Department of Psychology do not simply attend lectures. Instead they practice and master actual research methods through courses like “Basic Experiments in Psychology” and “Research Methods in Psychology”. They learn about reaction time, fieldwork basics, polygraph implementation, and other specialized matters. This first encounter with real psychological studies must fill them with bewilderment and fresh interest towards the discipline. Ultimately students use these techniques while writing their graduation theses, and thus complete their four-year education.