Psychology as a Science

• The scientific method starts with a theory/ idea from which a hypothesis is then formulated in order to test this idea.
• The scientific method conducts experimental research to make a conclusion about behaviour. This can then be evaluated.
• Science uses paradigms to illustrate a shared set of beliefs. Most traditional sciences have one key paradigm that all researchers support, however in Psychology, we have several paradigms.
• The different approaches in Psychology are known as paradigms.
• Kuhn (1962) claimed that all sciences must have a paradigm; a unique set of beliefs or principles that people work with.
• Kuhn (1962) argued that Psychology was not a science as it has multiple paradigms.
• In Psychology each approach holds a shared set of beliefs and all supporters agree that this is the case.
• Popper (1959) proposed the idea of falsification. This aims to refute theories; can we prove them to be wrong? If a theory is falsified it becomes discredited and should be rejected.
• We cannot ever disprove/ falsify a theory unless we stringently test the idea using precise hypotheses.
• Empirical evidence refers to data collected through direct observation or experiment.
• Objectivity means researchers should remain unbiased and minimise sources of bias.
• Control involves controlling extraneous variables to establish cause and effect.
• Hypothesis testing involves making predictions that can be tested and verified.
• Replication refers to the ability to repeat a method and obtain similar results.
• Predictability aims to predict future behaviour based on research findings.
• The scientific process involves formulating theories, generating hypotheses, and testing them through observations and experiments.
• Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline in the late 1800s, with Wilhelm Wundt establishing the first Psychology lab in 1879.
• Cognitive Psychology adopts a scientific approach to unobservable mental processes.
• The Humanistic approach rejects the scientific viewpoint and values subjective conscious experience.
• The behaviourist approach began around the 1900s with scientists such as John Watson.
• Behaviourism follows general laws and principles when explaining behaviour. These should be objectively tested and measured.
• The cognitive approach used scientific experiments to test internal mental processes.
• The cognitive approach kicked off in the 1950s but many studies like Loftus' were conducted in the 70s.
• Science evolved quickly in the 1980s and 90s and scientific equipment such as brain scans have helped make behavioural assumptions more objective.
• Towards the end of the last century science and cognition merged to form areas of study such as cognitive neuroscience.