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Scientific Status in psychology - Coggle Diagram
Scientific Status in psychology
Hypothesis testing and falsification
In psychology we can generate hypotheses to be tested Experimental/Alternative hypothesis Null hypothesis In Psychology, we are always looking to support our null hypothesis because this means that research/ theory/models can be falsified – proved wrong. It is more scientific to prove something wrong that to prove something right
Karl Popper proposed falsification principle which identifies sciences from non-sciences, for a theory to be scientific, it must be testable and be able to be proved false. For example, the hypothesis that “all swans are white” can be falsified by observing a black swan.
Popper suggested that scientists should try to prove their hypothesises false instead of constantly adding proof Karl Popper’s ideas led to reduction in inductive method where we make an observation and then develop a theory from that.
Some areas of psychology fail to generate testable hypotheses and are therefore difficult to falsify? Freud’s Psychodynamic theory works on complex, unfathomable ideas that cannot be measured Aspects of Social Psychology like the idea of Moral strain in agency theory are difficult to falsify as you cannot tell what someone else may be thinking (Not guaranteed that strain is occurring due to balancing ideas) Aspects of cognitive psychology because it may be difficult to measure exact aspects of memory in a controlled manner, i.e. we may try study STM capacity, but because of the task we’re doing, the capacity may be lower. STM capacity may appear worse for longer words than short ones. Thought processes in all aspects of Psychology. The reasons for prejudice may be hard to identify
Objectivity and control
Science dictates that research should be conducted in a controlled (measurable) way and should be free of any researcher opinion Variables should be clearly defined and the conditions under which experiments are done should be controlled so that extraneous variables cannot impact upon the results
A counter argument would be that when studying humans, they will naturally react to the researcher and so demand characteristics are often very difficult to eliminate
The method with most control is Laboratory Experiments and the method with the least control is Natural Experiment
Empiricism
This is the idea that knowledge is based on experience Therefore, science should be based on directly observable phenomenon This means that the best methods of testing are experiments, where variables can be tightly controlled to establish cause and effect (because you see the effect of the IV on the DV) In order to try and control variables, standardised procedures must be used, and this aids replicability as well.
Brain Scans Cortisol swabs or blood tests Laboratory experiments specifically,provide empirical data
Replicability
If a study is conducted in a truly scientific way, it means that someone else should be able to repeat it by using the same standardised procedure
Replication allows researchers to test for reliability – getting the same or similar results as the initial research.
Replication is crucial in developing scientific theory
Standardised Procedures in Research:
Milgram- He standardised maximum and minimum shocks on generator (15-450v) as well as the amount the shocks incremented by 15v]
Schmolk- Had standardised, 9 semantic test battery as well as clear way of recording results i.e.semantic test scores and video recordings
Raine et al- Had clear procedures like having participants do Continuous performance task and having PET scan done afterwards
Bandura 1975- Had standardised program length e.g. 5 minutes programme and participants being given same toys
Becker et al (2005)- Included standardised questionnaire and recording of results was clear (Through adding up scores from Teacher reviews and acknowledging behavioural allocations from peers)
Reliability
Reliability means consistency – gaining the same or similar results and conclusions This is important so that we are able to make claims that apply to the wider population because they are consistently found through research - not just to one person Therefore a true science is called ‘nomotheic’- it applies to everyone
From reliable research, we aim to apply it different people, different environments, and partly different situations
idiographic, a word meaning "relating to or dealing with something concrete, individual, or unique.“- Applies to case studies specifically like Phineas Gage and Clive Wearing
Validity
This means ‘truth’ or ‘accuracy’
Does an investigation measure what it intends to measure.
A true scientific study is one where results are due to manipulation of the IV so that we can see
the effects on the DV - internal validity
But we also need to consider how we can apply findings to other environments outside of the study setting - external validity
Reductionism
In order to scientifically study a theory, we need to break it down into small enough parts so that we can test specific variables.
This means we reduce the whole theory of human behaviour to a measurable variable. This allows for empiricism – testing the effect of what we can observe.
On the other hand, a reductionist approach ignores other factors that may influence the end result so we do not have the whole explanation. How does each topic take a reductionist approach?
Social- Doesn’t acknowledge biological factors such as genetics and/or hormones, can be seen as reductionist due to not including females in research and/or theories.
Cognitive- Loosely implicates interrelation between short-term and long-term memory as well as other stores to simplify the concept of memory.
Learning Theories- Doesn’t include any reference to nature like hormones, genes, and neurotransmitters, which is completely reductionist.
Biological- Little influence of nurture involved, suggests how biological factors like hormones and/or genetics may affect behaviour, specifically aggression, but doesn’t suggest implication of other, nurture factors like socialization.