features of psychology as a science

• Paradigm - Features of Science

  Consists fo the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methods of study that are commonly accepted by members of a discipline or group
• Paradigm Shift - Features of Science


  An important change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline; a 'scientific revolution
• Objectivity - Features of Science

  Not affected by the personal feelings and experiences of the researcher

  The researcher should remain value-free and unbiased when conducting their investigations
• Empirical - Features of Science

  Emphasises the importance of data collection based on objective, quantitative observation

  eg: observations and experiments

  
  

  A theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it can be empirically tested and verified
• Replicability - Features of Science


  A study should produce the same results if repeated exactly, either by the same researcher or by another
• Falsifiability - Features of Science


  Falsifiability is the principle that a proposition or theory can only be considered scientific if in principle it was possible to establish it as false

  
  

  Karl Popper suggested that all scientific theories should hold themselves for scientific testing an dthe possibility of being proven false

  Any theories that cannot be scientifically tested are accused of being 'unfalsifiable' and therefore not scientific

  
  

  Popper claimed that you can never prove any psychological theory as true (because it only takes one instance to disprove it, but cannot record them all)

  
  

  However, if psychologists cannot falsify a theory, then we can accept it as our strongest theory (but we cannot say that it has been 'proven true
• Paradigm and Paradigm shift - Psychology as a Science - Features of Science


  Unified definition of psychology - 'study of the mind and behaviour'

  
  

  - several paradigm shifts

  >Freud 1900s -> Behaviourism late 1900s -> Cognitive 1960s -> Biological 1980s -> Cognitive neuroscience 1990s ->
• Paradigm and Paradigm shift - Psychology is NOT a Science - Features of Science

  Thomas Khun: Too many approaches and internal disagreement to be a science

  > instead 'pre-science
• Objectivity and the Empirical Method - Psychology as a science - Features of Science


  - controlled lab experiments

  - experimental method > direct observation

  - psychologists attempt to remain objective through use of randomised controlled experiments, standardised procedures, double blind experiments, use of control group ect

  (in Bio/Behaviourist/Cognitive/SLT approaches)
• Objectivity and the Empirical Method - Psychology is NOT a science - Features of Science


  Some approaches are not objective

  eg: psychodynamic/humanist

  
  

  Some methods are not objective

  eg: case studies/self-report
• Theory Construction and Hypothesis Testing - Psychology as a science - Features of Science

  Psychology uses the scientific method

  - generates hypothesis using theory

  - evidence can then strengthen/refute theory

  - therefore theories are always based on evidence

  
  

  (in Bio/Behaviourist/Cognitive/SLT approaches)
• Theory Construction and Hypothesis Testing - Psychology is NOT a science - Features of Science


  Some approaches (psychodynamic) do not collect evidence in an unbiased way

  -> Little Hans interpreted to fit Oedipus theory

  
  

  Even when using scientific method, conclusions may be influenced by cultural and social norms

  eg: Asch

  Therefore, theories could be biased
• Replicability - Psychology as a science - Features of Science

  - Peer review allows other psychologists to see their investigations

  -> allows them to verify their findings in different contexts

  
  

  - Lab studies are highly replicable

  
  

  - Most accepted psychological phenomena is replicable (Milgram)
• Replicability - Psychology is NOT a science - Features of Science


  Samples of participants usually coe from Western cultures and are usually university students

  So cannot generalise and replicate in other cultures

  
  

  Some methods are not replicable

  eg: Case studies favoured by Humanistic/Psychodynamic approaches
• Falsifiability - Psychology as a science - Features of Science


  Genuine scientific theories can be tested and proven false

  
  

  Most psychological approaches use the scientific method to support or disprove hypothesis being tested
• Falsifiability - Psychology is NOT a science - Features of Science


  Psychodynamic approach cannot be falsified

  If you cannot see or test the unconscious, you cannot prove that is is not true

  
  

  Concepts that are difficult to define, objectively measure, and empirically test (self-actualisation) are hard to falsify