Science Flashcards
What 2 scientific ideas did Karl Popper propose?
Scientific rigour - continually testing to disprove a theory, rather than ‘positivism’ (giving supporting research).
Deductive logic - following an experimental plan (aim, hypothesis, procedure, results, conclusions) to distinguish science from non-science
What is the scientific approach? (3 points)
Looking for a cause and effect between the IV and DV
Can be studied by collecting primary data, or secondary data
E.g. meta-analysis
Combining the findings of several studies and looking for a statistical significance
What is the essay plan for the science essay? (3 points)
Greatest level of science: Bio and Clinical
Supported by: Raine and Haloperidol
Challenged by: Rosenhan and Freud
Mid-level of science: Cognitive
Supported by: Schmolck
Challenged by: Case studies and Episodic Buffer
Least level of science: Social & LT
LT - challenged by Pavlov
Social - supported by Sherif
How is the greatest level of science in biological and clinical psychology? (3 points)
They demonstrate science to the greatest extent with the advent of technology and human genome sequencing
This has enabled psychology to develop from a philosophical to a scientific discipline using objective and empirical measurements
Laboratory experiments utilising control and experimental groups with the collection of objective, quantitative data are seen as fulfilling scientific criteria
How does Raine et al support biological psychology being the most scientific? (4 points)
Research methods in biological psychology use a high degree of control, decreasing confounding variables
E.g. Raine et al:
+ Used a matched pairs design based on
age and gender for NGRI participants and a control group of non-murdering participants
+ Participants were also taken off their medication 2 weeks before the study
+ Allowed the PET scan to measure ‘natural’ brain activity, enabling cause and effect between brain activity and NGRI status to be established
How does Haloperidol support clinical psychology being the most scientific? (4 points)
Medical treatments in clinical psychology are very scientific
E.g. Haloperidol
+ FGA that functions as a D2 antagonist
+ Decreases dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain, reducing positive symptoms of Sz like hallucinations
Clinical trials can be conducted to test the efficacy of treatments which involve control groups exposed to a placebo and experimental groups given the medication
The reduction in symptoms can be empirically quantified and biological samples like blood can be measured with operationalised units, all contributing to a highly scientific approach
How does Rosenhan challenge clinical psychology being the most scientific? (2 points)
Rosenhan (1973) used non-scientific methods - naturalistic covert study took place at 12 psychiatric hospitals in 5 US East and West Coast states
Unstandardised procedure means lack of reliability and descriptive qualitative notes of the pseudo-patient experiences in MH hospitals are subject to researcher bias -decreasing the internal validity
How does Freud’s psychodynamic theory challenge biological psychology being the most scientific? (3 points)
Similarly, Freud’s psychodynamic theory relied on idiographic case studies including his subjective interpretations of Little Hans
Freud’s theory is heavily criticised for being unfalsifiable and unscientific because it can neither be proven true nor refuted
E.g. libido is difficult to test and measure objectively - we cannot establish cause and effect between the tripartite system and aggressive human behaviour
How does cognitive psychology have a mid-level of science?
Some cognitive psychology studies have introduced scientific measures like brain scans to improve empiricism, whilst others use case studies which lack falsifiability
How does Schmolck’s study support cognitive psychology having a mid-level of science? (3 points)
The use of more empirical, quantifiable experimental measures is seen in Schmolck’s contemporary study
Found that semantic memories reside in the anterolateral region of the temporal lobe and episodic memories reside in the medial temporal lobe
Such advances in our understanding of memory have been made possible with the application of brain imaging techniques
How do case studies challenge cognitive psychology having a mid-level of science? (3 points)
Cognitive psychology relies heavily on case studies like HM - lost his LTM but not STM, supporting the theoretical MSM
Their unique, idiographic approach reduces their scientific status - difficult to repeat
Subject to researcher bias due to primarily being based on observations
How does the Episodic Buffer challenge cognitive psychology having a mid-level of science? (3 points)
Theoretical models of memory could be seen as less scientific and credible because of amendments made
By adding the Episodic Buffer in 2000 to the
original WMM model proposed in 1974, Baddeley could be perceived to be undermining the scientific credibility of his work
Although technological advancements have led to improved study of the human brain and memory, cognitive psychology is still not entirely a scientific and empirical approach
How can social psychology and LT be considered the least scientific? (2 points)
They employ measures like unstructured interviews and thematic analysis
Subject to researcher bias - they write down their own interpretation of a behaviour observed
How does Pavlov’s study challenge LT being the least scientific? (3 points)
Could be argued that Pavlov’s study exemplifies the scientific credibility of LT
He placed a collection salivary tube down the throat of a dog to measure the number of drops of saliva produced when exposed to the conditioned stimulus, achieving empirical quantitative data
However, the mental processes involved in CC like extinction remain unfalsifiable - difficult to prove the existence of theoretical concepts, rendering theories unscientific
How is social psychology scientific? (2 points)
Could also be argued that repeated testing in a variety of research settings indicates reliability, supporting a scientific approach in social psychology
E.g. Milgram’s Telephonic Instruction study:
Obedience rate fell from 65% to 22.5% for 450V
