Issues and debates: science (bio)

Question 1

INTRO

Science

Answer 1

• Psychology uses the hypothetico-deductive method, testing theories through objective research with tight controls to establish cause and effect.
• Scientific research should be based on empiricism and falsifiability, according to Popper i.e. scientifically tested to find out if it was right or wrong, could not be considered scientific.

Question 2

A01 & A03 (is)

Answer 2

A01:
Biological psychology heavily uses objective methods like brain scans (e.g., PET scans), which produce empirical data, and lab experiments that allow for replication and hypothesis testing, such as Raine’s study on brain dysfunction in murderers.

A03:
Raine’s research showed strong scientific method: matched pairs controlled confounding variables (age, gender, ethnicity), urine tests confirmed drug-free participants, and PET scans provided objective, quantitative brain imaging, enhancing replicability and validity.

Question 3

A01 & A03 (isn’t)

Answer 3

A01:
- However, the use of correlational studies to investigate aggression could mean biological psychology is not as scientific.

A03:
Dabbs et al:
- Tested testosterone levels in saliva of 692 adult male prisoners found higher levels and rapists and violent offenders, and in burglars and thieves. Same effects of distortion also found in women. This means A cause and effect relationship cannot be established between hormones and aggression.

Question 4

judgement

Answer 4

overall, bio psych is scientific as there are ways it can be made objective