Issues and debates: science (soc)

Question 1

INTRO

Science

Answer 1

• Psychology uses the hypothetico-deductive method, testing theories through objective research with tight controls to establish cause and effect.
• Scientific research should be based on empiricism and falsifiability, according to Popper i.e. scientifically tested to find out if it was right or wrong, could not be considered scientific.

Question 2

A01 & A03 (is)

Answer 2

A01:
Social psychology can be scientific when objective measures are used, like in obedience research. In Milgram’s study, participants’ obedience was measured numerically (highest shock level reached), providing quantifiable, objective data.

A03:
Milgram’s classic obedience study used a highly standardised procedure (same script, same prompts) and the dependent variable (shock voltage) was numerical, meaning bias was minimised and results were reliable and replicable.

Question 3

A01 & A03 (is not)

Answer 3

A01:
However, social psychology sometimes lacks control. In field experiments like Sherif’s Robbers Cave study, real-world settings led to uncontrolled variables, meaning behaviours like prejudice weren’t isolated or fully controlled.

A03:
The Robbers Cave study relied on naturalistic behaviour, making it hard to standardise conditions. Prejudice could have been influenced by uncontrollable social pressures (e.g., group loyalty), meaning findings were subjective and harder to replicate, making the research less scientific.