Unit 12: Conclusion: Biases and Limitations of Experimental Psychology

Question 1

the human biases to which science is subject

Answer 1

those that exert a conservative influence on science, and those that exert a liberal influence

Question 2

conservative bias

Answer 2

• slow to change
• resistant to new ideas
• funding is subject to political pressure
• private funding is biased

Question 3

liberal bias

Answer 3

science challenges existing institutions

Question 4

Essential limitations of science in achieving knowledge

Answer 4

• values must lie outside of science - remain agnostic on questions outside the realm of common agreement
• much is culturally relative
• science is new, tentative, incomplete

Question 5

Practical limitations of science in achieving knowledge

Answer 5

• size/complexity of questions, technical difficulties of research –> some areas of study progress more slowly
• unfunded or expensive (apparatus) areas of research are less studied
• Interactions between factors can be super complex and hard to understand

Question 6

What are the responsibilities of a scientist?

Answer 6

• social responsibility
• uphold principles of free speech
• educate the public about nature of research and results