Debates

Question 1

what are the 2 sides of the psychology as a science debate

Answer 1

Psychology is a science as it tries to use features like objectivity and controls
Psychology isn’t a science as research may be bias

Question 2

What are the strengths of psychology as a science

Answer 2

society values scientific research more so may be more willing to take part
Scientific research is more predictable and deterministic

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of psychology as a science

Answer 3

high levels of control means low ecological validity
Research could lack validity if it is too deterministic

Question 4

What are the 2 sides of the socially sensitive research debate

Answer 4

should not be conducted as it can cause offence or lead to discrimination
Should be cconducted as it can help explain differences between groups

Question 5

What are the strengths of socially sensitive research

Answer 5

progresses understanding of human behaviour
Leads to ways of improving behaviour

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of socially sensitive behaviour

Answer 6

can lead to people not wanting to take part in research
Can cause psychological harm

Question 7

What are two sides of ethics debate

Answer 7

it is or is not justifiable to break ethical guidelines

Question 8

What are strengths of breaking ethical guidelines

Answer 8

can reduce demand characteristics
Can provide real life applications

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of breaking guidelines

Answer 9

public may lose trust in researchers
May cause harm

Question 10

What makes research useful

Answer 10

High ecological validity
Manipulated iv
Useful findings

Question 11

2 sides of individual vs situational debate

Answer 11

behaviour is a result of unique internal characteristics
Behaviour is result of environment /situation\context

Question 12

Strengths of individuals vs situational debate

Answer 12

useful applications
If we know cause of behaviour then interventions can be put in place

Question 13

Weaknesses of individual vs situational debate

Answer 13

reductionist to assume one or the other
If individual then behaviour may be hard to change

Question 14

Strength of reductionist

Answer 14

pin points influences on behaviour
More scientific as cause and effect can be established

Question 15

Weaknesses of reductionist

Answer 15

lacks depth of understanding
Oversimplifies complex behaviour

Question 16

Sides of reductionism vs hollism

Answer 16

behaviour can be studied by breaking it down into smaller parts
Behaviour should be looked at as a whole

Question 17

Strengths of determinism

Answer 17

behaviour can be predicted
Interventions can be put into place

Question 18

Weaknesses of determinism

Answer 18

takes away responsibility for behaviour
Reductionist

Question 19

Two sides of nature vs nurture

Answer 19

Nature - behaviour caused by biological causes like genes
Nurture -behaviour caused by environment and interactions with it

Question 20

strengths and weaknesses of nature

Answer 20

useful applications like medication for anxiety
Ethics if biology is the cause then should we change

Question 21

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Nurture

Answer 21

useful applications environment can be changed
Reductionist