The Intersection of Psychology and Computers

The intersection of psychology and computers is a critical juncture for creativity and user-centered design in technology. It’s also where many unintentional injuries to people happen. That’s why we need psychologists to play a bigger role in tech development–particularly given that many technology companies change human behavior at scale and profit from behavioral changes, and generally embrace www.rebootdata.net/how-to-delete-apps-on-apple-watch/ scientific innovation.

In the past the collection of data in psychological research was based on two primary methods: lab studies and surveys [1]. The first focuses on a particular aspect in a small controlled setting, whereas the latter evaluates general behavior by using self-reporting questionnaires or (potentially) structured interviews. Both have inherent limitations.

Computers, however, can store and analyze massive amounts of information at a rapid speed, and in ways that traditional methods cannot. This is why they are powerful tools for psychologists and psychologists, opening up a new field of research. For example, a new field called Psycho(neuro)informatics is emerging that merges psychology and computer science to develop models of human brains and intelligence. This requires a group comprised of psychologists with domain expertise and computer scientists who have the skills needed to construct large-scale systems, manage and analyze data.

There was little collaboration in the past. For instance, Google directors have been more inclined to study computer and computational science (29 percent have studied it) as opposed to psychology (less than two percent). This has led to a lack of psychology in the management of tech companies, which has the result that a lot of technology products fail to incorporate psychological principles.