6.1.1

(2026 Exams) Psychology as a Science

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Is Psychology a Science?

There is much debate over whether or not psychology is a science. Here are the arguments for and against the idea, as well as basic criteria for something being a science.

Factors that make something a science

Factors that make something a science

  • Controlled, experimental conditions that can show cause and effect and can test hypotheses.
  • Highly standardised experiments that can be repeated in the same way - reliability
  • Use of IVs and DVs.
  • The scientific method – objective, systematic and replicable.
  • The scientific cycle – objective, systematic and replicable observation. Building, refining or falsifying, development of a scientific theory, constant testing/refining and back to the theory.
For psychology being a science

For psychology being a science

  • It relies on objective and systematic methods, so is more than the passive acceptance of facts.
  • Because scientific methods rely on a belief in determinism, they are able to establish causes through use of methods that are empirical and replicable.
  • If scientific theories no longer fit the facts, they can be refined/abandoned. Psychologists are always replicating each other’s work so poor theories become redundant quickly.
Against psychology being a science

Against psychology being a science

  • It concentrates so much on objectivity and control that it tells us little about how people act in more natural environments.
  • Much of the subject matter in psychology is unobservable, so cannot be measured with any degree of accuracy.
  • Not all psychologists share the view that all human behaviour can be explored using scientific methods.
  • Allport (1947) took an eclectic approach to the study of psychology combining both the scientific methods of behaviourism and Freudian concepts of unconscious motivation – the best of both worlds!
Jump to other topics
1

Social Influence

2

Memory

3

Attachment

4

(2026 Exams) Psychopathology

5

(2027 Exams) Clinical Psychology & Mental Health

6

Approaches in Psychology

7

Biopsychology

8

Research Methods

8.1

Research Methods

8.2

Scientific Processes

8.3

Data Handling & Analysis

8.4

Inferential Testing

9

Issues & Debates in Psychology (A2 only)

10

Option 1: Relationships (A2 only)

10.1

Relationships: Sexual Relationships (A2 only)

10.2

Relationships: Romantic Relationships (A2 only)

10.3

(2026 Exams) Relationships: Virtual (A2 only)

10.4

(2027 Exams) Relationships: Online (A2 only)

11

Option 1: Gender (A2 only)

12

Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

13

Option 2: Schizophrenia (A2 only)

14

Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

15

Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

16

Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

17

Option 3: Forensic Psychology (A2 only)

18

Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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