G544:DEBATES
IS PSYCHOLOGY A SCIENCE?
What is Science?
1. What do you consider are the criteria for a
science?
2. What sciences are there?
3. Do they meet your criteria?
Scientific method
Science is: the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and
natural world through observation and experiment. According to modern
definitions, science has the following features (Eysenck and Keane 1990)
1.Controlled observations: in most sciences it is typical for experiments
to involve observing the effects of some specific manipulation.
2.Objectivity: even if total objectivity is impossible, it is still important for
data to be collected in a way as close as objective as possible
3.Testing theoretical predictions: scientific experiments are generally
carried out to test the prediction of some theory.
4.Falsifiability: the notion that scientific theories can potentially be
disproved by evidence.
5. Replicability: the findings obtained by researchers need to be replicable
or repeatable; it would be hard (or impossible) to base a science in
inconsistent findings.
6. Paradigm: there is a generally accepted theoretic orientation within a science e.g.
the theory of relativity in physics
1. Controlled Observations:
In most sciences it is typical for experiments to involve
observing the effects of some specific manipulation.
AS
Supports
Refutes
A2
2. Objectivity: even if total objectivity is impossible, it is still important for data
to be collected in a way as close as objective as possible
What will make a study more objective?
Think about methods:
AS
Supports
Refutes
A2
3. Testing theoretical predictions: scientific experiments are
generally carried out to test the prediction of some theory.
What does this involve?
4.Falsifiability: the notion that scientific theories can potentially be disproved
by evidence.
Hypothesis needs to be testable to be falsifiable and needs to be falsifiable to
establish cause and effect. In science and psychology experiments, and in particular
laboratory experiments, can be seen to be falsifiable.
AS
Supports
Refutes
A2
5. Replicability: the findings obtained by researchers need to be
replicable or repeatable; it would be hard (or impossible) to base a
science in inconsistent findings.
Which studies have we covered which are highly replicable and why?
AS
Supports
Refutes
A2
Kuhn’s Paradigm.
 Paradigm = An example serving as a model or pattern;
Kuhn said
 ‘a general theoretical orientation’ (a set of attitudes and
beliefs),
 that is accepted by most scientists in a given discipline (e.g.
physics).
 As knowledge advances a paradigm becomes less
adequate and is replaced by another. Newton to Einstein
E=MC2
Kuhn (1970)
 3 stages in the development of any science;
 1.Pre-science –no generally accepted paradigm and a wide
range of opinion about the best theories.(no shared set of
common beliefs).
 2.Normal science- a generally accepted paradigm. It influences
the type of experiments carried out and how the findings are
explained-Newtonian mechanics as used by physicists prior to
relativity
 3.Revolutionary science- a paradigm shift where evidence
against the old paradigm goes beyond a certain point
and is replaced by a new one
6. Paradigms:
Psychology and the ‘pre-paradigm state’
 Thomas Kuhn's 1962 critique implied psychology overall was in a
pre-paradigm state, lacking the agreement on overarching
theory found in mature sciences such as chemistry and physics.
 What elements of psychology do you thinks support Kuhn’s




beliefs? Do any refute them?
Have things changed since then?
Is there anything unifying psychology?
What are the assumptions of the different approaches? – does
this support Kuhn’s ideas or not?
Are there any approaches or theories which stick out?
SUMMARY OF DEBATE
Eysenck and Keane’s (1990) Criteria:
Controlled observations: in most sciences it is
typical for experiments to involve observing the
effects of some specific manipulation.
Objectivity: even if total objectivity is
impossible, it is still important for data to be
collected in a way as close as objective as
possible
Testing theoretical predictions: scientific
experiments are generally carried out to test the
prediction of some theory.
Falsifiability: the notion that scientific
theories can potentially be disproved by
evidence.
Paradigm: there is a generally accepted
theoretic orientation within a science e.g. the
theory of relativity in physics
Replicability: the findings obtained by
researchers need to be replicable or repeatable;
it would be hard (or impossible) to base a
science in inconsistent findings
Does psychology meet the following criteria?
 Arguments in favour
 Controlled observations & the testing of
theoretical predictions.
 Some psychological theories are falsifiable
(Popper) having been disproved by
experimental studies.
 Others have been replicated successfully.
 However some can’t be (e.g. Freud).
Against
1.Experimenter bias (determined by social
background) can affect objectivity.
 2. Laboratory experiments = artificial conditions
which means that findings can lack external
validity.
 3. How can we study the effects of an immediate
situation on behaviour? -behaviour is determined
by many things(-genetics, childhood, personality)
beyond our control. Therefore can it be a science if
we can’t control them?
***Social constructionism***
 Psych cannot be a science; our knowledge of
ourselves and others is a social construction & there
is no objective reality for research.
 ‘..facts are simply versions of events that are
presently (popular)’ –Burr (1997).
 Observations and their interpretations are
influenced by cultural /historical forces e.g. corporal
punishment in schools.
G544 Sec B
Example Exam Questions:
Jan 2010
 Discuss the features of the cognitive approach
that support the view that psychology is a
science. [8]
Jan 2012
 Discuss the extent to which psychology can be
considered a science [8]