Experimental Psychology, that studies external behaviour as well as the internal processes of the different stages of human development as also of animals, is considered the most important branch of psychology. The credit for establishing psychology on a scientific basis is given to experimental method. The scope of Experimental Psychology is widening with the invention of new tools and instruments for experiments. It is the core of the curriculum prescribed for psychology in almost all the Indian universities, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The present book, Experimental Psychology, is a textbook focusing on the experimental methods in the fast growing area of psychology. It attempts to provide an in-depth study of important areas covered by experimental psychology: physco-physics, animal psychology, learning psychology, psychology of individual differences, child psychology, education psychology, clinical psychology, industrial psychology, etc. Besides these, it includes experiments in physiological psychology, nervous system, mental processes and aspects of human behaviour. The book has been particularly designed to help students prepare for university examinations. The language used is lucid, simple and unburdened by technical jargon. The presentation of subject matter has been made from the pragmatic viewpoint, following a tried and tested pedagogical style, enabling the reader to easily understand and grasp the subject. It is hoped that it will prove highly useful to both students and teachers of Psychology.

Table of Contents:
1. Introductory Meaning of Experimental Psychology — Its Nature, Scope and Value. Experimental Method : Steps, Limits and Control — Questions for Exercise. 2. Pioneers of Experimental Psychology Wilhelm Wundt — Herman Von Helmholtz — J. McKeen Cattel — Questions for Exercise. 3. Psycho-Physical Method Method of Limits — Method of Right and Wrong Cases — Method of Mean or Average Error — Errors of Psycho-Physical Methods — Questions for Exercises. 4. Sample Investigation Meaning, characteristics, defects, scope, essentials — Method of Sample Investigation Question for Exercise. 5. Psychological Testing Importance of Psychological Tests — Meaning of Psychological Tests — Classification of Psychological Tests — Characteristics of Good Tests, Validity — Reliability — Intelligence Tests — Measurement of Personality — Measurement of Special Abilities — Question for Exercise. 6. Individual Differences Meaning and Types of Individual Differences — Question for Exercise. 7. Psycho-Physics and Weber-Fechner Function E.H. Weber Experimental Studies, Fechner’s Experiments, Johnnes Muller — Questions for Exercise. 8. Psysiological Psychology and Nervous System Meaning and Scope — Psychology and Physiology — Definition of Physiological Psychology — Its Problems — Metabolism of Cells — Intermediary Metabolism—Metabolism of Genes, Vitamins and Enzymes — Homeostasis — The Response Mechanism — Cell and its Functions — Primitive Response Mechanism — Neurons — Receptors — Effectors — The Nervous System — Endocrine Glands — Types — Hypo and Hyper Secretion, Influence on Behaviour and Personality — Nerve Physiology — Potentials in Neurons — Membrane Theory of Conduction — Measurement of conduction — Sensory and Motor nervous pathways — Peripheral Nervous System — Questions for Exercise. 9. Sensation and Sense Organs Nature of sensation — Attributes and types — visual receptor cells — visual sensation — Characteristics of colour — Visual constancy — Theories of colour vision. Young-Helmholtz’s theory — Hering’s theory — Ladd Frankin’s theory — Parkinje Phenomena — Auditory sensation — Theories of Audition — Aesthesiometric Index — Questions for Exercise. 10. Nervous System Spinal Cord : Structure and Functions — Brain — Structure and Divisions — Medulla Oblongata — Structure and Functions. The Metencephalon, Cerebellum — Mid Brain — Fore Brain — Thalamus and Hypothalamus — Cerebral Cortex — Functional Areas — Associative Areas — Inner Structure of the Brain, Grey and White matter — Localisation of brain functions : methods, localisation and types of combining areas — Sympathetic and Parasympathetic —Autonomic Nervous System — Questions for Exercise. 11. Perceptual Processes Meaning and Nature of Perception — Perception and Sensation — Characteristics of Perception, Perceptual Grouping — Laws of Organisation — Laws Determining Figure and Background — Illusion : Nature Types and Causes, Hallucination — Perception of Space — Questions for Exercise. 12. Attention and Distraction Determinants of Attention — Kinds of Attention — Distraction — Fluctuation of Attention — Attention and Interest — Questions for Exercise. 13. Studies of Action : Motivation Meaning and Categories of Motives — Less Specific Needs — General Needs — Other Innate Motives — Acquired Motives, Homeostasis, Hunger — Sex — Sleep — Measurement of Needs — Questions for Exercise. 14. Frustration and Conflict Meaning and Nature of Frustration — Causes of Frustration — Conflict — Questions for Exercise. 15. Reaction Time Nature and Importance — Kinds, Causes and Factors — Measurement — Questions for Exercise. 16. Feeling and Emotion Nature of Emotion, Emotion and Feeling, Physical Changes in Emotion : Inner and External, Theories of Emotion; James-Lange Theory, Cannon Theory — Motivational Theory — Activation Theory — Questions for Exercise. 17. Learning Meaning and Nature of Learning — Learning and Maturation — Conditioned Response Learning — Trial and Error — Insight — Problems of Neuro-physiology of Learning — Experiments on Brain — Experiments on Discriminative Learning — Study of Problem Solving Behaviour — Questions for Exercise. 18. Attention and Interest Meaning and Conditions of Attention — Determinants of Attention — Kinds of Attention — Distraction : Nature, Forms — and Means of Removing, Span of Attention — Division of Attention — Questions for Exercise. 19. Memory and Forgetting Nature of Memory, Constituents of Memory, Learning, Retention : Nature, Levels and Favourable Conditions, Favourable Conditions in Recognition, how to memorise, Forgetting : Nature and Causes — Questions for Exercise. 20. Association Experiments by Ebbinghaus — Kinds of Association —Free Association — Constrained Association — Questions for Exercise. 21. Imagery Methods of Studying Imagery — Methods of Studying Imagination — Questions for Exercise. 22. Thinking Nature — Forms — Instruments of Thinking — Concept Formation : Nature and Activities — Studies by Wurzburg — Theories of Thinking — Imageless Thinking — Set in Thinking — Question for Exercise. 23. Intelligence and Intelligence Tests Definition of Intelligence — Theories of Intelligence —Types of Intelligence Tests — Questions for Exercise. 24. Personality Meaning of Personality — Factors Effecting Personality — Questions for Exercise. 25. Work and Fatigue What is Work — Kinds of Work — Muscular Work — Mental Work — Work Curve— Factors Influencing Production — Fatigue : What is fatigue; its kinds — Questions for Exercise.