Quantitative Psychology

Mathematical psychologists develop and test quantitative theories of cognition, behavior, and other psychological phenomena. If you like mathematics and are looking for a challenging field in which to apply your skills, you may be interested in a career in mathematical psychology.

Empirical and quantitative methods in psychology have grown hand in hand since the late nineteenth century when the first psychology laboratories were established by Wilhelm Wundt and William James. Quantitative psychology began with the study of sensations and mental abilities and has spread into all aspects of the study of behavior. There are now mathematical theories of perception, motor performance, social interactions, memory, personality, decision making, developmental processes, psychophysiology, and even abnormal behavior.

Students in the mathematical psychology program at Purdue University acquire a solid background in mathematics, psychology, and statistics to use as a base for creating mathematical models in a wide range of psychological areas. Psychology, of course, intersects every human activity, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the excellent opportunities at Purdue to delve into neighboring disciplines such as artificial intelligence, neurophysiology, robotics, computer science, systems theory, and linguistics.