objectivity and the empirical method

• Observations must be made based on sensory experiences rather than simply describing ones own thoughts and beliefs. A scientific idea is one that has been subjected to empirical testing e.g. an experiment. Science therefore involves making predictions, tested by scientific empirical observations.
• For example the behaviourist approach clearly meets the scientific requirements as it uses controlled exeriments to collect emirical data.
• However, a roblem with psychology is that we are dealing with living things which incolves a relationship, therefore it is difficult to be objective and extraneous variables sush as experimenter bias and demand characteristics will play a part.
• The biological approach uses objective methods such as brain scanning techniques whereas the humanistic approach tries to explain behaviour in a subjective way.
• The biological approach promotes psychology as a science however the humanistic does not use objective ways to measure mental processes, so does not promote psychology as a science.