Psychology as a science Flashcards
2 positions of the debate
- psychology can be a science
- psychology can not be a science
psychology can be a science
can objectively teat cause and effect using experiments and scientific equipment
psychology can not be a science
studies variables that are too complex to manipulate or control, only do quasi and relies on subjective observations and self report
what is science?
a method of discovering objective truths about the causes and effects
what are other some methods of understanding truth?
personal beliefs, personal experience
what are some of the other ways to understand truth?
personal experience and beliefs
what are the features of science?
cause and effect, replicability, control and standardisation, manipulating variables, objective, hypothesis testing, quantifiable measurements, falsifiable, induction and deduction
why is cause and effect needed for science?
science focuses on the relationship between variables
why is replicability needed for science?
only be repeatedly gathering similar results can scientists be sure previous studies weren’t biased
why is manipulation of variables needed for science?
need to intervene and change a condition, to know what causes any effect on the participants in the condition
why is control and standardisation needed for science?
- only by keeping the variables the same can scientists be sure that changes in the DV are caused by the IV
- can’t replicate if the procedure isn’t consistent
why is quantifiable measurements needed for science?
it is needed for objective comparisons between 2 conditions
what is falsifiability?
when something has the potential set of results to be proven wrong, therefore it can be proven right
what is objectivity?
studying the real factual world, not opinions
what is induction?
when you use specific evidence to form general theories
what is deduction?
when you use general theories
what is deduction?
using a general theory to predict specific evidence
what is an example of induction and deduction?
alien example - red and purple aliens
- observing that the red aliens tend to be taller
- forming the general theory that red aliens are taller than purple
- a group of red and purple aliens are going to walk into a room
- based on our theory we predict the red aliens will be taller
strengths of being scientific
- lack of bias, more objective and valid
- practical cause and effect, improves understanding and real benefits
weaknesses of being scientific
- reductionism weaknesses, infinite regress and not appropriate for humans
- unrealistic environment, lacks ecological validity
strengths of not being scientific
- holism strength, no infinite regress and appropriate for humans
- realistic environments, has ecological validity
weaknesses of not being scientific
- biased, subjective and lacks internal validity
- lack of practical cause and effect, less useful in real world
