Approaches- Evaluation Of Origins Flashcards
One strength of using a scientific method?
Gives research high internal validity. There is high levels of control and allows researchers to manipulate the IV to see the effect it has on the DV. This allows the researcher to establish cause and effect and conclude that the IV is what was affecting the DV.
A strength of Wundt’s work and the scientific method?
Both use standardised procedures, which allows researchers to check for the reliability of the methods used using the test-retest method. The controlled conditions and standardised instructions allow the study to be repeated in exactly the same way.
A weakness of the scientific method?
It has low ecological (and temporal) validity. In order to make something measurable, it must be operationalised. However, doing this means the variable no longer resembles everyday behaviour. This means any conclusions made are limited to the extent to which they can be generalised beyond the experimental setting.
Another weakness of the scientific method?
The scientific method can only measure things that can be explicitly observed. So, things that influence our behaviour such as our thoughts are not observable. By only measuring observable behaviour we may be missing unobservable factors. A lot of research therefore relies on unobservable responses. Subjective data collected can’t be generalised. So, to get a full understanding of behaviour, mixed methods of both qualitative and quantitative data are necessary.
Why did Allport (1947) support psychology as a science?
He said that psychology has the same aims as science- to predict, understand and control.
Other weaknesses of the scientific method?
-Experiments are open to extraneous variables such as demand characteristics, which are hard to control.
-Some approaches in psychology don’t use objective methods to study behaviour as they use unreliable methods.
Another strength of the scientific method?
Some approaches (behaviourist, cognitive and biological) use scientific procedures to investigate theories. They are controlled and unbiased.
