Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Experimental psychology uses the scientific method to investigate psychological phenomena.
The first experimental psychologist was Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first psychology laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig in Germany. Wundt’s approach was structuralism, which focused on breaking down mental processes into their basic elements.
Other early important figures in experimental psychology include Hermann Ebbinghaus (who pioneered research on memory), Edward Thorndike (whose work led to the development of operant conditioning), and John B. Watson (who is credited with founding behaviorism).
Today, experimental psychologists use a variety of techniques to study a wide range of topics, including perception, cognition, attention, emotion, motivation, brain function, and social interaction. Some common research methods used by experimental psychologists include surveys, interviews, observation, and laboratory experiments.