AO3 - Features of Science

• One limitation of conducting objective research is that it can lead to a reductionist viewpoint. This is because we are simplifying complex behaviour down into simple basic units, for example simplifying OCD to simple basic units such as a mutated SERT gene which has been identified by objective methods such as gene mapping. This neglects a holistic approach which will take into account a variety of factors to explain behaviour such as culture and socio-economic background. Therefore, when conducting objective research we fail to gain a full understanding of human behaviour in context.
• A strength of using replicable research in Psychology can lead to practical applications. If a researcher uses replicable procedures for example when Skinner investigated reinforcement with rats, the rats were placed in a controlled environment. This means the research can be replicated under the same conditions which increases the credibility of the research. This can help to develop practical applications such as token economy systems for people suffering with Schizophrenia to help manage their symptoms. Therefore showing features of a science is an important part of applied Psychology.
• One limitation when considering if Psychology follows all features of a science is that some theories cannot be falsified. For example, in the Psychodynamic approach, Freud's idea that children must progress through 5 psychosexual stages to have a ‘normal development’. However, this theory cannot be falsified as there is no possible way to test if this idea is true or false due to the unscientific nature of studying the unconscious. Therefore not all areas of Psychology can be considered a science due to their unscientific methods, lowering the credibility of Psychology as a science.