can psychology become a science? Flashcards
what is “can psychology become a science” about?
an article written by Scott O. Lilienfeld that explores the challenges and potential limitations of psychology as a scientific discipline.
what is the argument?
begins by acknowledging that psychology has made great strides in recent years, but argues that it still has a long way to go before it can truly be considered a “hard” science.
what does Lilienfeld identify?
He identifies several issues that can make psychology challenging to study scientifically, including the complexity and variability of human behavior, the subjective nature of many psychological constructs, and the difficulty of measuring certain variables accurately.
what are the 5 threats to scientific psychology?
Complexity of behavior
Subjectivity of constructs
Measurement difficulties
Limited applicability
Statistical issues
explain the complexity of behavior
Human behavior is complex, and it can be difficult to identify and control all of the factors that contribute to it. This complexity can make it challenging to develop clear and testable hypotheses and to design experiments that adequately capture the intricacies of human behavior.
subjective constructs
Many psychological constructs, such as personality traits or mental disorders, are difficult to define and measure objectively. This subjectivity can create challenges for researchers trying to develop valid and reliable measurement tools and to compare findings across studies.
measuring difficulties
Measuring certain psychological variables can be challenging. For example, it can be difficult to measure thoughts and emotions accurately, and many measurement tools are prone to bias or error.
limited replicability
Some psychological findings are difficult to replicate, which can make it difficult to determine whether they are truly valid or just flukes. This problem can be exacerbated by publication bias, which can lead researchers to focus on findings that are novel or exciting, rather than those that are more mundane or less likely to produce significant results.
statistical issues
Psychological research often relies on statistical analyses to make sense of data. However, many researchers lack a deep understanding of statistics, and may use statistical methods that are inappropriate or prone to error. This can lead to unreliable or misleading findings.
what does lilienfeld believe?
He believes that by continuing to improve research methods and adopt more rigorous scientific practices, psychology can continue to evolve into a more scientific field.
