Some people see psychology and computer science as two distinct fields that have nothing in common. The general consensus is that computer science is a very rigorous and quantitative research culture while psychology research is based on more qualitative studies of behavior and human perception.
In reality, a lot of modern computer science is inspired by psychology. The design of interfaces for technology – from car dashboards, to airplane cockpits, from operating systems for computers to game controllers – is largely developed by psychologists working closely with computer scientists. A lot of psychological research requires sophisticated software to process massive data sets.
Psychologists are increasingly utilizing technology to expand their reach. The traditional methods for experimentation of psychology – studying one aspect of behavior in a controlled environment, or assessing broader behavior patterns with self-report questionnaires and interviews – are not without limitations (experiments are limited to a single study; longitudinal studies are not common because of the safety tips difficultness of collecting and analyzing large amounts of data).
The use of computer technologies has opened up new possibilities for understanding people behavior. For instance the brain-imaging method fMRI could not be achieved without computers. Researchers can identify specific brain regions to 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.
Moreover the UK’s National Health Service now recognizes the CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as an effective treatment for moderate to mild cases of depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI) is, on the other hand, is poised to revolutionize psychotherapy by replacing the therapist and treating patients online with robots.
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