Is psychology a science?

Objectivity/objective data

• data with one factual interpretation

• this is usually numerical and is not an opinion

(empirical evidence = based on observation or experiment rather than theory)

Replicability

• The ability to repeat a study and obtain similar or the same results

• this increases the confidence and validity of research findings

Generalisability

• are the findings from a single sample applicable to explaining the behaviour of the wider population?

Validity

How far a study measures what it intends to measure

Control

Control groups allow comparison, or control of extraneous variables to ensure that it is only the IV that affects DV

Scientific aspects of Biological

• Raine PET scans of brain abnormalities: objective, reliable due to the PET standardised procedure and matched pairs (still requires some interpretation of the scan). All participants received injection with glucose tracer and then 32 minute wait on distraction task. All scans were compared across the same 14 areas of the brain

• Hormonal/brain structure as an entire explanation of aggression is reductionist (conflicting - Fred West as having a rough upbringing as well as biological brain structures). Dolan, Dobbs & Hargrave objective empirical data on concentrations of hormones in the blood

• Brendgen triangulation of methods, improves validity 

Scientific aspects of Learning

•  Pavlov’s dog experiment had a baseline to compare the rate of salivation and he had a very standardised procedure in a soundproof lab (replicability) → ensured only the effect of the IV on the DV was being recorded, and that his test could be repeated with the same results and that extraneous variables were controlled 

• Pavlov collected quantitative results which are subjective empirical data  

• Bf Skinner’s puzzle box was repeated with Thorndike’s version. Skinner’s rats – controlled lab experiment - even factors such as light intensity were controlled, producing objective empirical data. Ability to have greater control over animals, less risk of demand characteristics improves validity

• Bandura highly standardised procedure - length of time in each room, toys in each room, set phrases for experimenter. improved interrater reliability by having a second experimenter

Scientific aspects of Cognitive

• Empirical data from case studies such as Phinneas Gage, proved that memory is due to physical structures in the brain 

• Sebastian and Hernandez-gil proved that digit span increases until 17. Reliable as it was replicated before in England and similar results were achieved. Replicable - all participants received same digit sequences, read at rate of 1 digit per second, objective quantitative results require no interpretation

• Baddeley had standardised procedures and control groups. Improved validity by asking participants to recall word order rather than the words themselves

Scientific aspects of Social

• Milgram and Burger: more objective as had empirical data around how many went up to 450V, experiments were more standardised and reliable (carefully recorded measures e.g. same 4 verbal prompts) 

• Burger’s study found similar results to Milgram, proves replicability. Burger also increased the sample size and included women to make it more representative, thus improving generalisability. He also removed the confounding variable of money acting as motivation and decreasing the validity of results by reminding pps they could withdraw from the study and still receive the £150

• Sedikides and Jackson: objective results however poor internal validity as lack of control over extraneous variables (such as the type of people participating, as it was a field experiment) 

• realistic conflict theory Robber's cave study used a range of data collection methods to increase internal validity of the findings - this included observation, peer rating on questionnaires, interviews etc. High ecological validity as it was a field experiment

Non-scientific aspects of Social

• Robbers Cave is more subjective because it’s based on observations - lack of empirical data. Difficult to control extraneous variables as it was a field experiment - e.g. couldn’t control what was happening in the boys’ own rooms

• Robbers cave had lack of standardisation, field experiment, no controls. Ethnocentric and androcentric - lack of generalisability from sample of only white, protestant teenage boys. Sherif had also completed multiple other experiments before Robber’s Cave that did not give him the results he wanted, therefore reducing the reliability of his findings

• Tajfel minimal groups study had confounding variable of the money that might have reduced validity of the results

Non-scientific aspects of Cognitive

• The Working Memory model relied on hypothetical constructs, the slave systems had no physical representation. Lack of empirical evidence for Central Executive

• reconstructive memory schemas are a hypothetical construct that cannot be falsified, and the process of filling gaps in memory with these schemas by definition is unconscious so makes it difficult to obtain any empirical evidence. War of the Ghosts study lacked scientific credibility due to a lack of scientific procedure, no standardisation of participant controls - allowed unlimited deliberation time over their answers, and in one scenario barlett ran into the participant 6 years later and asked them to recall the story

• Sebastian and hernandez-gil - didn't test for impairments themselves and relied on the schools information - lack of control variables. Impacts replicability

• Case studies are not very scientific - individuals with brain damage are not representative of the typical cognitive functioning of wider society

Non-scientific aspects of Learning

• The Little Albert case study was very subjective, his fear response is not an objective measure. Impacts replicability of the study (also note that findings can not be repeated and verified as BPS ethical guidelines do not permit this). Only one participant in the study, limits generalisability - also concerns that Little Albert had hydrocephalus at the time

• Bandura social learning theory is not objective, theory involves mental processes such as attention/motivation which are harder to observe and are therefore less scientific, lack of empirical evidence. the bobo doll experiment gathered subjective qualitative results (difficulty in defining or identifying the scale of a child’s anger) and time trial sampling collection method not scientific. Time sampling is not very accurate/rigorous as data can be missed whilst experimenter is logging, also subject to bias

• Pavlov’s/Skinner’s use of animals limits generalisability to human behaviour

Non-scientific aspects of Biological

• Freud: subjective, no falsification as there is no data when looking at the unconscious mind, lack of empirical data 

• difficult to replicate as no standardisation or scientific procedure

• difficult to generalise the results from one boy in one case study

• Raine PET scans still require some subjective interpretation (the scan was also taken along the canthomeatal line, which is found at a different point in everyone, due to ear height etc)

• The validity of Brendgen’s study could have been impacted by personal biases in teacher/peer ratings. As Brendgen was using 6 year olds, there is a chance they didn’t understand the nature of the task and that would impact validity

• Difficult to generalise the results of Giammanco’s study on mice to humans

Falsifiability

Theories can be tested and proven wrong

Introduction

• Scientific method is where there is a theory, hypothesis is generated, the statement is tested empirically and then the theory amended or accepted. This generally involves generating quantitative data

• The definition of psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour

• Psychology therefore requires some scientific processes to make research credible  

• However, to avoid being too reductionist, it does require some non-scientific aspects as it focusses on human emotions etc. that can’t always be measured objectivity or falsified

Issuify

Definition of psychology - science of mind and behaviour