features of science

• features of a science 


  -debate whether psychology can be considered a science 
• objectivity

  • Key feature is the ability for researchers to remain objective so they mustn't let personal opinions interfere with the data (no personal bias) 
  • Lab experiments are most objective method due to high control over variables 
  • However, the least objective methods are naturalistic due to lack of control over IV/observations and content analysis as behavioural categories are subjective 
• empirical method

  • Knowledge gained from observation or experience, not just theory or beliefs 
  • There must be empirical evidence 
  • Empirical methods are controlled producing quantitative data  
  • Any theory should be empirically tested to be considered scientific  
  • Empirical method is important as it reduces subjective and unfounded claims 
• replicability

  • Using the same standardised procedures to conduct the same research again and achieving same results 
  • Ensures results can be generalised to target population as the same finding are found 
  • Don't confuse with RELIABILITY which refers to consistency of results 
• falsifiability

  • When something can be proved wrong  
  • All investigations have a null hypothesis which suggests any difference or relationship is due to chance  
  • Popper (1934) argues falsifiability is important as scientific research can never be proven true if you can also prove its false 
  • Freud’s psychodynamic approach is considered pseudoscience as it can't be falsified so is not scientific 
  • It cannot be falsified as if a person states they didn't go through the Oedipus complex it can be counteracted they are just in denial (defence mechanisms).  
• theory construction

  • Top down or bottom-up approach 
  • A theory is a set of principles that explains behaviour or events  
  • Evidence is needed (empirical method) so the theory is objective and scientific 
  • The inductive process (bottom up) when an experiment is devised which leads to a theory The deductive process (top down) is when a theory is devised first which leads to an experiment which gives results to support or refute the hypothesis
• hypothesis testing

  • A hypothesis is an objective and measurable (operationalised) prediction 
  • Once a hypothesis is tested it can be accepted or rejected 
  • If the hypothesis is rejected, alterations will be made to the theory  
  • If the hypothesis is supported, the theory will be strengthened  

   
• paradigm and paradigm shift

  • Paradigm- a set of shared assumptions within a discipline (everyone in unity). E.g. cognitive approach’s paradigm assumes behaviour stems from our thought processes whereas a biological approach’s paradigm assumes behaviour stems from genes  
  • Kuhn (1962) argues psychology is a pre-science  
  • Paradigm shift-when a scientific revolution occurs which challenges an existing paradigm so over time the paradigm’s assumptions change  
  • Paradigm shifts in psychology develop from Freud's psychoanalytic theory to behaviourism (Pavlov and skinner) to the cognitive approach