4. Assess The Extent To Which Psychology Can Be Classed As A Science

Question 1

Define the AO1 concept of objectivity and subjectivity

Answer 1

Objectivity is the when data is interpreted in a non bias way, not using your own personal opinions and beliefs to draw conclusions from the data. If data is objective this increases its validity and credibility because it is likely to be interpreted in the same way by many different people therefore applications are high.

Question 2

Define the AO1 concept of replication

Answer 2

If the study is able to be repeated by following the same standardised procedures. Makes it scientific as results should be consistent

Question 3

Define the AO1 concept of control over studies

Answer 3

If you can predict the future result, this means you can control the extraneous variables which will likely affect this, which if not controlled may become confounding

Question 4

Define the AO1 concept of cause and effect

Answer 4

If a study has good cause and effect this means that it is confident that the manipulation of the independent variable is what is causing the change in the dependent variable. This therefore increases internal validity of the study, making it more scientific

Question 5

Define the AO1 concept of prediction

Answer 5

As a result of your study you can predict a future result, making it scientific as you are creating a hypothesis

Question 6

For cognitive topic- use of lab experiments- strength and weakness

Answer 6

AO1: Lab experiments are used within the cognitive approach for example in Baddley’s study. He used an artificial and highly controlled setting to investigate how long term memory encodes, and whether it’s the same as short term memory. He presented the 10 high frequency words in each of the 4 conditions by screen projection for 3 seconds, changed every 2 seconds.

AO3 STRENGTH: A cause and effect relationship was able to be established

AO3 WEAKNESS:

Question 7

For cognitive topic- use of case studies- strength and weakness

Question 8

For learning topic- use of animal studies- strength and weakness

Question 9

For learning topic- use of observations- strength and weakness

Question 10

For bio topic- use of brain scans- strength and weakness

Question 11

For bio topic- use of case studies- strength and weakness

Question 12

For social topic- use of lab experiments- strength and weakness

Question 13

For social topic- use of self report data- strength and weakness