Features of a Science Flashcards
(24 cards)
● What is one limitation of conducting objective research in Psychology?
It can lead to a reductionist viewpoint
● What is a reductionist viewpoint?
Simplifying behaviour down into simple basic units
● What is a holistic approach?
Takes into account a variety of factors to explain behaviour
● Give an example of a reductionist explanation from Psychopathology
Simplifying OCD to a mutated SERT gene
● What can be neglected if research is too reductionist?
A holistic approach including culture and socio-economic background
● What is a strength of using replicable research?
It can lead to practical applications
● Give an example of replicable research in Psychology on animals.
Skinner’s Box - investigating positive and negative reinforcement with rats
● Why is replication important?
Increases the credibility of the research
● What does a controlled environment allow in research?
Replication under the same conditions
● What is a paradigm?
A shared set of assumptions and methods in scientific disciplines
● Does Psychology have a universally accepted paradigm?
No - there are multiple paradigms
● What is a paradigm shift?
A revolutionary change in scientific assumptions
● Give an example of a paradigm shift in Psychology.
Move away from behavioural psychology to cognitive psychology
▲ Why does reductionism risk lowering validity in psychological research?
It may fail to gain a full understanding of human behaviour in context
▲ Why is replication considered a scientific feature?
Repeating research helps to generalise the theory to a wider population
▲ How does replication help generalise findings?
Similar behaviour observed in a different group of participants increases confidence in results and generalisability
▲ Why is the lack of a universal paradigm a problem for Psychology as a science?
There is not one universally accepted explanation of behaviour, limiting our credibility as a science
▲ What does operationalisation allow in research?
Procedures to be repeated to check findings are externally valid
✪ Critically evaluate the limitation of reductionism in Psychology (Point & Example)
One limitation of conducting objective research when establishing Psychology as a science is that it can lead to a reductionist viewpoint. This is often a problem as we are simplifying behaviour down into simple basic units, for example simplifying OCD to simple basic units such as a mutated SERT gene which has been identified by objective methods such as gene mapping.
✪ Critically evaluate the limitation of reductionism in Psychology (Elaborate and Link)
This neglecting a holistic approach which will take into account a variety of factors to explain behaviour such as culture and socio-economic background. Therefore, when conducting objective research we fail to gain a full understanding of human behaviour in context.
✪ Evaluate why replication increases credibility of research.
If a researcher uses replicable procedures for example when Skinner investigated reinforcement with rats, the rats were placed in a controlled environment. This means the research can be replicated under the same conditions which increases the credibility of the research.
✪ Critically evaluate how replication can help generalise theory
Repeating research to check findings are externally valid. Rather than using the same sample, psychologists test a different group of people to see if similar behaviour is observed. This helps to generalise the theory to a wider population.
✪ Evaluate why not all areas of Psychology are considered a science.
Some approaches/theories cannot be falsified. For example, Freud in the Psychodynamic approach created the idea of 5 psychosexual stages that children must progress through to have a ‘normal development’. However, this theory cannot be falsified as there is no possible way to test if this idea is true or false due to the unscientific nature of studying the unconscious.
✪ Define what a paradigm and a paradigm shift are in the context of Psychology.
Paradigm: Where scientific disciplines have a shared set of assumptions and methods. Psychology lacks a universally accepted paradigm (there are too many internal disagreements and conflicting approaches).
