Psychology as a science

Question 1

What is this debate about?

Answer 1

Whether psychology is a science and if research should be conducted to follow guidelines of scientific research

Question 2

What makes something a science?

Answer 2

It is:
Objective
Replicable
Falsifiable

Question 3

Objective

Answer 3

The results are a matter of fact based on what can be scientifically recorded and observed
Not opinion of researcher’s own interpretations

Question 4

Replicable

Answer 4

If the research can be repeated using different participants in a different place to find the same thing (if it’s consistent and reliable)

Question 5

Falsifiable

Answer 5

If the research is able to be tested to be proven wrong using empirical research and observation

Question 6

What else does the scientific method involve?

Answer 6

Study of cause and effect
induction or deduction
standardised procedures
manipulation of variables
controls
hypothesis testing
quantifiable measurements

Question 7

Drawbacks of psychology being scientific

Answer 7

May lack collecting qualitative data to inform later research/ explain findings
Reductionist due to cause and effect: neglects effect of other variables
Low ecological validity as this uses highly controlled experiments which is not accurate to irl
Discredits research methods eg case studies

Question 8

Benefits of psychology being scientific

Answer 8

Highly standardised and controlled experiments due to isolation of variables so high validity and reliability
Quantitative data is collected which is easy to analyse
Objective so not vulnerable to researcher bias
Improves reputation of psychology

Question 9

When would research not be falsifiable?

Answer 9

If no matter the evidence presented, the theory can never be proven wrong
Because it is about an abstract concept that cannot be observed or measured directly so no empirical evidence can be presented