Evaluation of Theories

Question 1

How does psychological theories differ from laws in natural science?

Answer 1

Are considered probable rather than certain and are always open to some level of doubt
* a single theory cannot account for all aspects of a psychological phenomenon - essential to evaluate them to test robusticity

Question 2

TEACUP

Answer 2

T - testability
E - evidence
A - application
C - concept
U - unbiased
P - predictive

Question 3

Testability

Answer 3

It must be able to be empirically investigated
* needs to be able to be falsifiable (have the capacity to be attempted to be proven wrong)

Question 4

Empirical Evidence

Answer 4

Evidence are clues or facts that help everyone believe the theory is right
* such as information acquired by observation, experimentation, interviews or case studies
* must be replicable in order for theory to be well supported (by more than one single study)

Question 5

Application

Answer 5

Requires practical applications and can be used in real-world problems

Question 6

Concepts (construct validity)

Answer 6

Construct validity checks whether what you’re measuring actually reflects the concept you’re trying to study, so your results are accurate and meaningful
* theory must accurately define and measure its key concepts

Question 7

Unbiased

Answer 7

Good theory should not show cultural, gender or researcher bias
* many may be developed in Western, middle-class norms

Question 8

Predictive

Answer 8

Strong theory can predict future outcomes or potential behaviours accurately (predicting trends)