Scientific status

• Science

  Falsifiability- ability to test a statement and prove its false

  Objectivity- gains knowledge by being objective

  Replicability- method is conducted in a way that it can be replicated

  Nomothetic knowledge- discover universal laws that apply at all times and places so predictions can be made.
• Methodologies in various approaches

  Scientific methods lower internal validity through experimenter bias and demand characteristics. They are artificial which means it cant be generalised to a larger population.

  Solms (2000) used PET scans to find supporting evidence for Freuds ideas about dreaming. This suggests an oversimplification to state the psychodynamic approach is always unscientific.
• Methodologies in various approaches

  Thomas Kuhn (1962) used the term 'paradigm' which is a shared set of assumptions, methods and terminology within a subject. Psychology cant claim to be a science with a range of mini paradigms.

  However, Stephen Rose viewed biology as having a number of paradigms.
• Changing nature of science

  Psychology can no longer be categorised along traditional views of hard and soft sciences. Woit (2007) argues that modern physics is devoting more time to unfalsifiable theories (string theory).

  Quantitative data gathered in psychology can be used to make nomothetic statements about universal behaviours.
• Changing nature of science

  The role of technology in psychology have gained prominence. An article by the Association for Psychological Science in 2015 gives evidence of a growing use of brain scanning methods and neuroscience in psychology.
• Benefits of psychology

  Society (ethically)- scientific studies allow us to be more confident that drugs will have a desired effect. Society (economically)- it can be applied in ways that save governments money.

  Subject( funding implications)- STEM subjects attract higher funding from governments. Subject (stronger platform)- when its considered a 'science' it is given a stronger voice in public debate.
• Costs of psychology

  Overuse- there is an overuse of qualitative methods meaning researchers may miss out on the deeper understanding of behaviour.

  Bias- quantitative data can be biased/misleading and can be damaging as 'scientific' evidence is seen as more credible.