There are those who view psychology and computer science as two separate fields with little in common. The prevailing view is that computer science has a very rigorous and quantitative research culture while psychological research is based on more qualitative research into human behavior and perception.
In fact, much of the computer science that we have today is inspired by psychology. The design of interfaces for technology – from car dashboards to plane cockpits, from operating systems for computers to game controllers – is largely driven by psychologists who work closely with computer scientists. Also, a large portion of psychological research is a statistically intensive and requires sophisticated software to process large data sets.
Psychologists are increasingly utilizing technology to increase their reach. While the traditional techniques for testing of psychology – studying the behavior of a specific individual in a controlled and controlled environment or evaluating larger behavior patterns through self-report questionnaires and interviews have inherent limitations (experiments are limited to one experiment; longitudinal research is not common due to the difficultness of collecting and analyzing massive amounts of data).
Computer technology has given us new ways to analyze the behavior of individuals. Computers are essential for the brain-imaging technology fMRI. Researchers can link specific brain regions with cognitive processes like reading or memory. EEG (electroencephalography) is another example of a technology that uses computer processing to record and analyze brain activity.
Furthermore it is the case that the UK’s National Health Service now recognizes the practice of CCBT (computerized cognitive behavioral therapy) as a treatment that is effective for moderate-to-moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the practice of psychotherapy by replacing therapy professionals with robots that examine and treat patients on the internet.
