3.4.1 Psychology Is A Science (Con)

Question 1

What is a controversy?

Answer 1

Prolonged dispute or debate concerning a matter of opinion

Question 2

What does a controversy not have?

Answer 2

A clear answer/resolution

Question 3

(Benefits) What is science concerned with?

Answer 3

What we know to be the truth

Question 4

(Benefits)We attach considerable importance to science as a way of what?

Answer 4

Distinguishing what is true and real

Question 5

(Benefits) Science gives us a body of knowledge we accept to be what?

Answer 5

Trustworthy

Question 6

(Benefits) why do psychologists want psychology to be recognised as a science?

Answer 6

They want their research to be deemed trustworthy and their applications to be accepted

Question 7

(characteristics) the most fundamental characteristic of a science is reliance on what?

Answer 7

empirical methods of observation and investigation

Question 8

(characteristics) what are empirical methods?

Answer 8

conducting research to provide evidence

Question 9

(characteristics) science is what o?

Answer 9

objective - scientific observation under objective conditions

Question 10

(characteristics) scientific research involves what c?

Answer 10

control - it takes place under controlled conditions with control over variables

Question 11

(characteristics) scientific findings and investigations are what r?

Answer 11

replicable - consistent

Question 12

(characteristics) science is what f?

Answer 12

falsifiable - we can falsify hypothesis - prove things wrong

Question 13

(characteristics) science involves making testable predictions about what is expected when?

Answer 13

under specific conditions

Question 14

(characteristics) what method is ideal for conducting scientific psychological research?

Answer 14

lab experiments

Question 15

(characteristics) why are lab experiments ideal?

Answer 15

test falsifiable hypotheses
conducted under objective conditions
replicable methods and findings
empirical
high control over variables

Question 16

(characteristics) what other scientific methods does psychological research use?

Answer 16

controlled observations

brain scans

Question 17

(methodologies) what methodologies does the biological approach use?

Answer 17

brain scans
lab experiments e.g. double blind placebo trials
genetic studies
psychological measures
quasi experiments e.g. raine et al

Question 18

(methodologies) what methodologies does the psychodynamic approach use?

Answer 18

controlled studies
case studies e.g. Anna O
interviews
PET scans
dream analysis

Question 19

(methodologies) what methodologies does the behaviourist approach use?

Answer 19

controlled observations

lab experiments

Question 20

(methodologies) what methodologies does the cognitive approach use?

Answer 20

lab experiments e.g. Loftus & Palmer
interviews
questionnaires
field experiments

Question 21

(methodologies) what methodologies does the positive approach use?

Answer 21

meta analysis & reviews e.g. myres & diener literature review
correlational analysis e.g. happiness & age
observations via beepers/ pagers
surveys e.g. happiness of americans

Question 22

(change) with the psychodynamic approach (1900) what approach and research methods were favoured for understanding human behaviour?

Answer 22

idiographic approach

qualitative methods e.g. case studies like anna O, little Hans, Bowlby

Question 23

(change) why did the idiographic approach fall out of favour?

Answer 23

rise of behaviourism (1913)

Question 24

(change) with the behaviourist approach what did psychologists seek to do?

Answer 24

quantify behaviour permitting statistical analysis e.g. skinners box

Question 25

(change) the rise of behaviourism saw the decline in the idiographic approach, replaced by what?

Answer 25

nomothetic approach

Question 26

(change) what does nomothetic mean?

Answer 26

aims to create general laws of behaviour e.g. reinforcement and punishment

Question 27

(change) how long did the nomothetic approach to understanding behaviour continue?

Answer 27

up to 1990s - cognitive and biological approach

Question 28

(change) when did the first psychology lab open?

Answer 28

1879

Question 29

(change) today what methods do psychologists like to use?

Answer 29

combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques

Question 30

(change) give an example of a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods:

Answer 30

thematic content analysis

used when analysing details from case studies

Question 31

(change) today psychologists like to use triangulation, what is this?

Answer 31

using a variety of research methods to check the validity of findings

Question 32

(change) give an example of triangulation:

Answer 32

following a questionnaire with an observation

Question 33

(IS a science) give an example of psychological research that was falsifiable:

Answer 33

initial dopamine hypothesis proposed schizophrenics had too much dopamine
falsified by administering drugs which reduce levels of dopamine finding no effect on individuals with negative symptoms

Question 34

(IS a science) why is it a benefit that research is falsifiable?

Answer 34

developments in understanding

e.g. falsification of initial dopamine hypothesis led to development of more effective atypical drugs

Question 35

(IS a science) give an example of psychological research conducted under objective conditions:

Answer 35

skinner’s box on operant conditioning was conducted under objective conditions to investigate effects of reinforcement and punishment on behaviour

Question 36

(IS a science) why is it beneficial if research is objective?

Answer 36

seen to be scientific and trustworthy

Question 37

(IS a science) give an example of a replicable piece of psychological research:

Answer 37

milgram’s study of obedience

replications found high levels of obedience across sex & nationality

Question 38

(IS a science) why is it a benefit if research is replicable?

Answer 38

consistency allows for cause and effect relationships to be established
trustworthy evidence to support explanations

Question 39

(IS a science) give an example of controlled psychological research:

Answer 39

Watson and Rayners controlled observation on little albert - high control over variables e.g. lighting

Question 40

(IS a science) why is it a benefit if research is controlled?

Answer 40

higher control, replication, consistency in findings allows cause and effect relationships to be established, therefore findings are trusted

Question 41

(IS a science) give an example of empirical psychological research:

Answer 41

loftus & palmer - research on how leading questions affect memory recall

Question 42

(IS a science) why is it a benefit research is empirical?

Answer 42

scientific knowledge deemed trustworthy and real life applications e.g. cognitive interview to gain more accurate EWT