PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE

• Features of science

  • objectivity- recorded without bias
  • control- observations need to be done in controlled conditions
  • predictability- results should be able to be used to predict future behaviours
  • hypothesis testing- theories generate predictions (hypotheses)which can be tested to strengthen or weaken support for the theory
  • replication- different scientists should be able to carry out the study
• Arguments for psychology as a science

  • Allport said psychology has the same aims as other sciences- to predict, understand and control
  • behaviourist, cognitive and biological approaches use scientific procedures
• Arguments against psychology as a science

  • other approaches such as humanistic dont use scientific methods
  • findings cant be generalised because obtaining representative samples is hard
  • psych experiments are subject to extraneous variables such as demand characteristics
• reductionism=breaking something down into its simplest parts