Psychology as a Science Flashcards
What is the hypothetico deductive model?
When a theory is formulated - hypothesis is derived - hypothesis is tested empirically - amending or agreeing with theory
What is falsification?
Must be possible to prove it wrong but don’t actually have to, e.g can’t falisfy id, ego, superego
What is reductionism?
Breaking things into parts in order to study it more effectively, reducing a behaviour to one aspect e.g genes
What is empricism?
States that the only source of knowledge comes through our senses. Knowledge can’t come through chains of reasoning, must be experienced
What is a paradigm?
One overall theory within a subject in order to make predictions. Needs to be accepted by everyone in that subject. All appraches disagree.
What is a nomathetic approach?
A scientific approach to behaviour that focuses on large samples in testing/experiments that seeks to find generalised laws that apply to all
What is an ideographic approach?
A non scientific approach that focuses on small samples/individuals that does not seek to find generalised laws
How are case studies in clinical unscientific?
Bradshaw (1998) is an ideographic case study that cannot provide general laws of behaviour as there is just one in the sample and she is female and has undifferentiated type which isn’t the same for all schizophrenics
How does clinical psychology use empirical evidence?
- Monoamines can be seen in monoamine hypothesis
- Dopamine can be seen and measured in NT hypothesis
- Genetics are testable through concordance rates
How doesn’t clinical psychology use emprical evidence?
- 4Ds very subjective and difficult to see
- Symptoms of depression/schizophrenia difficult to see - auditory hallucinations
How can studies in clinical psychology be falsified?
- Rosenhan (1973) - would have to detect them as sane
- Brown (1986) - if no onset of depression after life event
- Williams et al (2013) - if no improvement after iCBT and CBM
How can’t studies in clinical psychology be falsified?
- Cognitive explanation is difficult to falsify - difficult to see cognitive triad and prove negative automatic thoughts
How is the methodology in clinical psychology scientific?
- Bradshaw (1998) case study = unscientific
- Carlsson (2000) used PET scans :) but also interviews :(
- Williams (2013) randomised ppts into intervention or WLC and measured effectiveness of CBT objectively
- Brown (1986) used interviews = subjective
Is clinical psychology reliable?
- DSM and ICD - Cooper (1972) NYC 2X as likely to diagnose sz as London who are 2X as likely to diagnose depression = :(
- Beck (1962) 54% agreement when 2 clinicans looked at 153 patients = :(
- Rosenhan (1973) replicated each time a pseudopatient went to the hospital = :)
Is clinical psychology reductionist?
- Cognitive explanation doesn’t take into account biological factors - :)
- Monoamine hypothesis ignores environment - :)
- Dopamine hypothesis ignores environment - :)
- Brown (1986) ignores biological vulnerabilities - :)
- Social causation - more holistic but still reductionist