Features of psychology as a science

Question 1

The empirical method

Answer 1

-The empirical method is a process of collecting data through direct experiences
-In psychological research this includes direct observation of participants, self report, case studies, experimentation and content analysis
-Not good enough to just believe an idea you have to actually go out into the world and test it

Question 2

Objectivity

Answer 2

-Objectivity is the principle that data should be collected in a way that is not influenced by the opinions and/or expectations of researchers

Question 3

Improving objectivity

Answer 3

-Double blind- Data is collected by a researcher who does not know the research aim
-Peer review can be used to identify biases in the research such as making conclusions that are not supported by data
Extraneous variables should be controlled in order to establish a true cause and effect relationship

Question 4

Falsifiability

Answer 4

-Any psychological theory should be able to be disproven by a new empirical pieces of evidence that comes along in order for it to be scientific
-The longer a theory withstands without being falsified by new evidence, the more confidence that individuals have in the theory being correct

Question 5

Paradigm shift

Answer 5

-Scientists in a particular scientific area share a set of established assumptions (paradigm) and scientists gather new evidence to support these assumptions
-However, sometimes, new contradictory evidence or theories are introduced that do not fit into this paradigm
-Scientists often initially reject this new paradigm as they are committed to the original paradigm
-However, once there is sufficient evidence in support of the new evidence, the majority of the scientific area shift from the old paradigm to the new paradigm (paradigm shift)

Question 6

Paradigm shift to neuroscience

Answer 6

-Researchers began to investigate internal brain functions and their souces with the use of fMRIs and CT scans

Question 7

Construction of a scientific theory (process)

Answer 7

Stage 1. Psychologists observe naturalistic human behaviour in the “real world” (e.g Nazi soldiers obeying instructions from an authority figure to commit terrible acts)
Stage 2. From this observation, psychologists can then develop a hypothesis that is testable in controlled conditions (e.g innocent people will deliver fatal shocks if instructed by an authority figure
3. Psychologists can then test this hypothesis through conducting an experiment and collecting experimental data. If the data is determined to be significant through many statistical tests, the researcher can claim a cause and effect relationship between variables
4. The researcher can then establish a theory to explain the data

Question 8

Top down method of theory construction

Answer 8

-Researchers start with an established theory, and develop hypotheses that test one of the theory’s assumptions
-The results from these studies can either support the existing theory, add to the theory, or completely disprove the theory

Question 9

Hypothesis testing

Answer 9

-The longer a theory withstands the testing of its assumptions via hypothesis testing, the more confidence people should have in the validity of this theory