scientific method

• introspection 


  Latin for 'looking into'

  person gains knowledge about their own emotional and mental state

  Wundt = mental processes like memory and perception could be observed systematically through introspection
• scientists vs introspection

  scientists believe that knowledge comes from observation and experience not introspection
• 2 assumptions of science

  1.all behaviour is seen as being caused or determined by certain factors

  2.so it should be possible to predict how humans will behave in different situations

  =techniques used to explore these assumptions became known as the scientific method
• 7 key factors

  1.field of study should use empirical methods

  2.theory construction and hypothesis testing

  3.theories must be falsifiable

  4.studies must have objectivity and be controlled

  5.studies must have replicability

  6.field of study must have paradigms and shifts

  7.field of study smut use peer review
• FOS , empirical methods

  its what we know to be true rather than what we believe to be true

  most fundamental characteristic is reliance on empirical methods where we can observe results objectively through direct testings
• theory , construction & hypothesis testing

  theory construction happens after gathering evidence through observation = should help us predict behaviour such as a precise prediction = hypothesis

  hypothesis testing = theories are modified , is support for hypothesis theory is strengthened , if not theory is modified
• cycle of science

  theory > hypothesis >test > modify
• theory , falsifiable 


  we can show theories to be false but cannot 1oo% prove them to be true

  theories that have not yet been shown to be false are the strongest
• studies , objectivity & controlled 


  data should be empirical and collected under controlled conditions to ensure objectivity

  study is not affected by expectations of researcher , must not let their personal opinions affect results
• study, replicability

  validity of study can be checked b repeating it over different circumstances and situations, if outcomes the same it supports original results

  psychologists need i report investigations precisely for replication to be possible
• FOS, paradigms and shifts

  paradigm = general theory or law that's accepted by majority of scientists in that field

  they are not fixed and can change = paradigm shift

  occurs when there's too much contradictory evidence to ignore so scientists start to question original paradigm

  can lead to scientific revolution when new paradigm is accepted
• Kuhn & paradigms 


  science has universally accepted paradigms , suggests that psychology lack this and should therefore be a prescience because of too much disagreement within different approaches

  however some believe it is a true science because its already undergone paradigm shifts
• FOS, peer review

  validates new research , ensures that any research conducted and published is high quality
• strengths of scientific method

  uses objective and controlled methods = empirical data produced

  possible to establish the cause of behaviour = so cause and effect can be inferred

  cycle of science = psychology always progressing = psychological knowledge continually improves and is updated
• weakness of scientific method


  some say human behaviour cant be tested scientifically

  testing is carried out in controlled situations = artificial = lacks ecological validity

  most human behavior cant be empirically tested , behaviours cant be measured accurately = unable to observe internal mental processing so have to make inferences