sushifishiez
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In order to answer this question it is important to understand the
definitions of both psychology and science. The word 'psychology' comes
from the Greek 'psyche' (or soul) and 'logos' (or study), which came to be
known as the 'study of the soul'. The American Heritage Dictionary
defines psychology as:
1. the science dealing with the mind and with mental and
emotional processes 2. the science of human and animal behavior.
In its pure definition the dictionary has provided us with a clue to the
answer, it describes science as:
1. systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, etc. 2. a
branch of knowledge, esp. one that systematizes facts,
principles, and methoRAB 3. skill or technique
In order to prove this claim we have to look at whether or not psychology
can fill this definition above.
Scientific study is a valid way of coming to an understanding of life, and
can be very useful in every area of life. Science develops theories based
on what is observed. It examines each theory with rigorous and scrupulous
tests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well in
observing and recording physical data and in reaching conclusions which
either confirm or nullify a theory.
During the mid-19th century, scholars (although at that time probably
termed philosophers) wanted to study human nature with the aim of applying
the scientific method to observe, record, and treat human behavior that
was deemed as unnatural. They believed that if people could be studied in
a scientific manner, there would be a greater accuracy in understanding
present behavior, in predicting future behavior, and, most controversially,
in altering behavior through scientific intervention.
There are many areas of psychology, each attempting to explain behavior
from slightly different perspectives;
Social psychology is concerned with the effects of social situations on
human behavior. Personality theorists study individual behavior.
Comparative psychologists study animal behaviors across the range of
species Physiological psychologists are concerned with the biological
basis of behavior. Developmental psychologists study principles and
processes responsible for change throughout life. Cognitive psychologists
investigate memory, thought, problem solving, and the psychological
aspects of learning. Analysis of behavior studies the conditions under
which a behavior can be learned and the situations that cause that
behavior to occur. Learning is an area of psychology exploring how new
behaviors are learned and maintained. Clinical psychologists study ways to
help individuals and groups of individuals change their behavior.
Industrial and organizational psychologists are concerned with the
physical and social aspects of people's work environments as they affect
work output. Community psychologists use scientific methoRAB to study and
solve social problems.
As Western describes, the psychological paradigm is a collection of
assumptions used to make sense of a subject area or experience, this can
be applied to psychology itself. Psychology lacks one unified paradigm
but has four perspectives that search for its understanding;
The pyschodynamic perspective believes that behavior is a result of
unconscious processes, personal motivation and early childhood experiences.
It's most famous advocate was Sigmund Freud. Its method of data
collection rely heavily on interpreting discussion, dreams and fantasies,
actions, case studies and a limited amount of experimentation.
The behaviorist perspective believes that behavior is learned and selected
by environmental consequences. Its method of data collection relies
heavily on experimentation conducted in the scientific laboratory where
the factors studied can be controlled; or it may take place in a real
life setting where more natural behavior is studied and far more variables
exist.
The cognitive perspective believes that behavior is a result of
information processing, storage in the brain, transformation and the
retrieval of information. The methoRAB of data collection used are again
experimentation but with much use of computer modeling.
The evolutionary perspective believes that psychological processes echo
the evolutionary processes of natural selection. Its method of data
collection includes the deduction of explanations for behavior, and
comparisons between species and cultures. It also involves a limited
amount of experimentation.
Of these four perspectives all lend common similarities to the traditional
sciences. All have elements of controlled experimentation, as does
physics or chemistry. Cognitive perspectives use computer modeling, as
does mathematics. There are similarities, but there are also differences
to any other sciences, such as the study of dreams and fantasies.
The methoRAB of experimentation and research in psychology is completed on
a scientific basis. Psychological experimental research would involve the
manipulation of a situation to examine the way in which the subjects of an
experiment react, in order to observe cause and effect. The experimenter
manipulates independent variables and the subjects responses would prove
the dependant variables. By measuring the subjects responses, the
experimenter can tell if the manipulation has had an effect.
Psychological hypotheses are sought to operationalise - to turn an
abstract concept into a concrete argument. This process is scientific in
its element. The hypothesis is framed, variables are operationalised
separately, a standard procedure is developed that is maintained
throughout the experiment, subjects are scientifically selected, results
are tested and conclusions drawn.
Control groups are often used, similar in essence to control chemicals
used in chemistry. These control groups are not exposed to the
manipulation but instead to neutral conditions, providing a standarRAB to
compare results. In some cases researchers carry out blind studies where
subjects are kept unaware of the aspects of the study. Double blind
studies have been used in the past where the researchers are kept blind
too.
A scientific subject knows its own limitations. Psychology attempts to
study complex phenomena in laboratory and field situations where validity
is called into question. Results contrast with differing personal
understandings of researchers which will always differ to some extent. In
a physical science a variance of error may be intolerable above 2%, in
psychology 50% may be an acceptable level.
Every psychological experiment and theory is evaluated with the same level
of criticality as that of the traditional sciences. Questions are asked
over the theoretical framework, the results validity and its relationship
with the hypothesis, the quality and range of sample and if it is
representative, the conclusions that can be drawn form the data and
broader conclusions that may be apparent. Finally the studies are
questioned on their meanings and ethics to operationalise the original
hypothesis.
Psychology has adopted the scientific mode. However, from a strictly
scientific point of view, it has not been able to meet the requirements of
true science.
In attempting to evaluate the status of psychology as a scientific study,
the American Psychological Association appointed Sigmund Koch to conduct a
study, employing over eighty noted scholars in assessing the facts,
hypotheses, and methoRAB of psychology. In 1983, the results were published
in a series entitled 'Psychology: A Study of Science'. Koch describes what
he believes to be the delusion in thinking of psychology as a science:
The truth is that psychological statements which describe human behavior
or which report results from tested research can be scientific. However,
when there is a move from describing human behavior to explaining it there
is also a move from science to opinion.
Here it is important to make the distinction between psychology and
psychiatry. Academic psychology is a scientific project, initiated by
Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig at around 1885. His work was
the study of the average adult human mind, and the scientific method used
was introspection. His approaches have long since been abandoned, as have
many of his ideals, but not the basic idea of understanding and describing
human functioning within a scientific context.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is no more a science than that of civil
engineering. Ideally, scientifically investigated therapeutic techniques
and methoRAB are used together with ethical and philosophical principles in
order to achieve a desired outcome. Psychotherapy, then, is a mixture of a
craft and an art and may not be called a science.
Psychology breeRAB many conflicting explanations of man and his behavior.
Psychologist Roger Mills, in his 1980 article, "Psychology Goes Insane,
Botches Role as Science," says:
"The field of psychiatry today is literally a mess. There are as many
techniques, methoRAB and theories around as there are researchers and
therapists. I have personally seen therapists convince their clients that
all of their problems come from their mothers, the stars, their
biochemical make-up, their diet, their lifestyle and even the "karma" from
their past lives."
These opinions are describing psychotherapy and not psychology in its core.
Remerabering that psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of
humans and animals, we should look at their methoRAB of study. As we have
seen, psychologists use scientific methoRAB in an attempt to understand and
predict behavior, to develop procedures for changing behavior, and to
evaluate treatment strategies. Mitchell and Jolley discuss the question
of whether psychology is a science in the first chapter of their text
'Research Design Explained' (3rd Edition). Their conclusions support the
claim that psychology is a science. They discuss the facts that
psychology produces objective evidence that can be replicated (replicated
with the same success as physics and chemistry experiments). That it
unearths observable, objective evidence that either supports or refutes
existing beliefs and creates new knowledge. And that psychology is open-
minded about claims, even those that go against common sense and sceptical
about ideas that, even though they make sense, have not been supported by
any research evidence.
If we can define a science using subjective methoRAB then Psychology is
definitely a science. Psychology represents an empirical science, its
methoRAB demanding empirical testing of hypotheses.
Many empirical results of psychology are subject to personal
interpretation and intense dispute. This can be seen as a function of the
phenomena that is psychology. But the key to resolving these disputes is
to turn back to the empirical methoRAB and pit alternative interpretations
against each other.
References
The American Heritage Dictionary, 1996
Western, Psychology - Mind, Brain and Culture, 1997
Sigmund Koch, 'Psychology: A Study of Science', 1983 article
Roger Mills, 'Psychology Goes Insane, Botches Role as Science', 1980
article
Mitchell and Jolley, 'Research Design Explained' (3rd Edition), 1995
Word Count: 1572
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1679 [/FONT]
In order to answer this question it is important to understand the
definitions of both psychology and science. The word 'psychology' comes
from the Greek 'psyche' (or soul) and 'logos' (or study), which came to be
known as the 'study of the soul'. The American Heritage Dictionary
defines psychology as:
1. the science dealing with the mind and with mental and
emotional processes 2. the science of human and animal behavior.
In its pure definition the dictionary has provided us with a clue to the
answer, it describes science as:
1. systematized knowledge derived from observation, study, etc. 2. a
branch of knowledge, esp. one that systematizes facts,
principles, and methoRAB 3. skill or technique
In order to prove this claim we have to look at whether or not psychology
can fill this definition above.
Scientific study is a valid way of coming to an understanding of life, and
can be very useful in every area of life. Science develops theories based
on what is observed. It examines each theory with rigorous and scrupulous
tests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well in
observing and recording physical data and in reaching conclusions which
either confirm or nullify a theory.
During the mid-19th century, scholars (although at that time probably
termed philosophers) wanted to study human nature with the aim of applying
the scientific method to observe, record, and treat human behavior that
was deemed as unnatural. They believed that if people could be studied in
a scientific manner, there would be a greater accuracy in understanding
present behavior, in predicting future behavior, and, most controversially,
in altering behavior through scientific intervention.
There are many areas of psychology, each attempting to explain behavior
from slightly different perspectives;
Social psychology is concerned with the effects of social situations on
human behavior. Personality theorists study individual behavior.
Comparative psychologists study animal behaviors across the range of
species Physiological psychologists are concerned with the biological
basis of behavior. Developmental psychologists study principles and
processes responsible for change throughout life. Cognitive psychologists
investigate memory, thought, problem solving, and the psychological
aspects of learning. Analysis of behavior studies the conditions under
which a behavior can be learned and the situations that cause that
behavior to occur. Learning is an area of psychology exploring how new
behaviors are learned and maintained. Clinical psychologists study ways to
help individuals and groups of individuals change their behavior.
Industrial and organizational psychologists are concerned with the
physical and social aspects of people's work environments as they affect
work output. Community psychologists use scientific methoRAB to study and
solve social problems.
As Western describes, the psychological paradigm is a collection of
assumptions used to make sense of a subject area or experience, this can
be applied to psychology itself. Psychology lacks one unified paradigm
but has four perspectives that search for its understanding;
The pyschodynamic perspective believes that behavior is a result of
unconscious processes, personal motivation and early childhood experiences.
It's most famous advocate was Sigmund Freud. Its method of data
collection rely heavily on interpreting discussion, dreams and fantasies,
actions, case studies and a limited amount of experimentation.
The behaviorist perspective believes that behavior is learned and selected
by environmental consequences. Its method of data collection relies
heavily on experimentation conducted in the scientific laboratory where
the factors studied can be controlled; or it may take place in a real
life setting where more natural behavior is studied and far more variables
exist.
The cognitive perspective believes that behavior is a result of
information processing, storage in the brain, transformation and the
retrieval of information. The methoRAB of data collection used are again
experimentation but with much use of computer modeling.
The evolutionary perspective believes that psychological processes echo
the evolutionary processes of natural selection. Its method of data
collection includes the deduction of explanations for behavior, and
comparisons between species and cultures. It also involves a limited
amount of experimentation.
Of these four perspectives all lend common similarities to the traditional
sciences. All have elements of controlled experimentation, as does
physics or chemistry. Cognitive perspectives use computer modeling, as
does mathematics. There are similarities, but there are also differences
to any other sciences, such as the study of dreams and fantasies.
The methoRAB of experimentation and research in psychology is completed on
a scientific basis. Psychological experimental research would involve the
manipulation of a situation to examine the way in which the subjects of an
experiment react, in order to observe cause and effect. The experimenter
manipulates independent variables and the subjects responses would prove
the dependant variables. By measuring the subjects responses, the
experimenter can tell if the manipulation has had an effect.
Psychological hypotheses are sought to operationalise - to turn an
abstract concept into a concrete argument. This process is scientific in
its element. The hypothesis is framed, variables are operationalised
separately, a standard procedure is developed that is maintained
throughout the experiment, subjects are scientifically selected, results
are tested and conclusions drawn.
Control groups are often used, similar in essence to control chemicals
used in chemistry. These control groups are not exposed to the
manipulation but instead to neutral conditions, providing a standarRAB to
compare results. In some cases researchers carry out blind studies where
subjects are kept unaware of the aspects of the study. Double blind
studies have been used in the past where the researchers are kept blind
too.
A scientific subject knows its own limitations. Psychology attempts to
study complex phenomena in laboratory and field situations where validity
is called into question. Results contrast with differing personal
understandings of researchers which will always differ to some extent. In
a physical science a variance of error may be intolerable above 2%, in
psychology 50% may be an acceptable level.
Every psychological experiment and theory is evaluated with the same level
of criticality as that of the traditional sciences. Questions are asked
over the theoretical framework, the results validity and its relationship
with the hypothesis, the quality and range of sample and if it is
representative, the conclusions that can be drawn form the data and
broader conclusions that may be apparent. Finally the studies are
questioned on their meanings and ethics to operationalise the original
hypothesis.
Psychology has adopted the scientific mode. However, from a strictly
scientific point of view, it has not been able to meet the requirements of
true science.
In attempting to evaluate the status of psychology as a scientific study,
the American Psychological Association appointed Sigmund Koch to conduct a
study, employing over eighty noted scholars in assessing the facts,
hypotheses, and methoRAB of psychology. In 1983, the results were published
in a series entitled 'Psychology: A Study of Science'. Koch describes what
he believes to be the delusion in thinking of psychology as a science:
The truth is that psychological statements which describe human behavior
or which report results from tested research can be scientific. However,
when there is a move from describing human behavior to explaining it there
is also a move from science to opinion.
Here it is important to make the distinction between psychology and
psychiatry. Academic psychology is a scientific project, initiated by
Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig at around 1885. His work was
the study of the average adult human mind, and the scientific method used
was introspection. His approaches have long since been abandoned, as have
many of his ideals, but not the basic idea of understanding and describing
human functioning within a scientific context.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, is no more a science than that of civil
engineering. Ideally, scientifically investigated therapeutic techniques
and methoRAB are used together with ethical and philosophical principles in
order to achieve a desired outcome. Psychotherapy, then, is a mixture of a
craft and an art and may not be called a science.
Psychology breeRAB many conflicting explanations of man and his behavior.
Psychologist Roger Mills, in his 1980 article, "Psychology Goes Insane,
Botches Role as Science," says:
"The field of psychiatry today is literally a mess. There are as many
techniques, methoRAB and theories around as there are researchers and
therapists. I have personally seen therapists convince their clients that
all of their problems come from their mothers, the stars, their
biochemical make-up, their diet, their lifestyle and even the "karma" from
their past lives."
These opinions are describing psychotherapy and not psychology in its core.
Remerabering that psychology is the scientific study of the behavior of
humans and animals, we should look at their methoRAB of study. As we have
seen, psychologists use scientific methoRAB in an attempt to understand and
predict behavior, to develop procedures for changing behavior, and to
evaluate treatment strategies. Mitchell and Jolley discuss the question
of whether psychology is a science in the first chapter of their text
'Research Design Explained' (3rd Edition). Their conclusions support the
claim that psychology is a science. They discuss the facts that
psychology produces objective evidence that can be replicated (replicated
with the same success as physics and chemistry experiments). That it
unearths observable, objective evidence that either supports or refutes
existing beliefs and creates new knowledge. And that psychology is open-
minded about claims, even those that go against common sense and sceptical
about ideas that, even though they make sense, have not been supported by
any research evidence.
If we can define a science using subjective methoRAB then Psychology is
definitely a science. Psychology represents an empirical science, its
methoRAB demanding empirical testing of hypotheses.
Many empirical results of psychology are subject to personal
interpretation and intense dispute. This can be seen as a function of the
phenomena that is psychology. But the key to resolving these disputes is
to turn back to the empirical methoRAB and pit alternative interpretations
against each other.
References
The American Heritage Dictionary, 1996
Western, Psychology - Mind, Brain and Culture, 1997
Sigmund Koch, 'Psychology: A Study of Science', 1983 article
Roger Mills, 'Psychology Goes Insane, Botches Role as Science', 1980
article
Mitchell and Jolley, 'Research Design Explained' (3rd Edition), 1995
Word Count: 1572
[/FONT]
[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 1679 [/FONT]