psychology as a science

• factors of a science

  • Controlled, experimental conditions that can show cause and effect and can test hypotheses.
  • Highly standardised experiments that can be repeated in the same way - reliability
  • Use of IVs and DVs.
  • The scientific method – objective, systematic and replicable.
  • The scientific cycle – objective, systematic and replicable observation. Building, refining or falsifying, development of a scientific theory, constant testing/refining and back to the theory.
• arguments for psychology as a science

  • It relies on objective and systematic methods, so is more than the passive acceptance of facts.
  • Because scientific methods rely on a belief in determinism, they are able to establish causes through use of methods that are empirical and replicable.
  • If scientific theories no longer fit the facts, they can be refined/abandoned. Psychologists are always replicating each other’s work so poor theories become redundant quickly.
• arguments against psychology as a science

  • It concentrates so much on objectivity and control that it tells us little about how people act in more natural environments.
  • Much of the subject matter in psychology is unobservable, so cannot be measured with any degree of accuracy.
  • Not all psychologists share the view that all human behaviour can be explored using scientific methods.