A2 - Psychology - Advantages of the scientific method

Advantages of the scientific method

Falsification

Definition: Proving that a statement or hypothesis is untrue or false.

Advantage: It is not possible to prove a hypothesis correct but you can provwe it wrong, i.e. falsifying it.

Example: One of the issues with Freud (1917) theory of psychoanalysis is the lack of proof. His theory produces claims that are untestable because they are unfalisifable. For instance, his view that all men are repressed homosexual tendencies cannot be disproved. If you do find men who have no homosexual tendancies then it could be argued that the men do have the feelings but these are not apparent as they are repressed.

Objectivity

Definition: The scientific obsever should try to keep their preconceptions, prejudices and biases about what they are seeing to a minimum. Not affected by the expectations of the researcher. Systematic collection of measurable data is the heart of the method.

Advantage: Without objectivity we have no way of being certain that data collected is valid. Although absolute objectivity maybe impossible, an effort is made to see the world as it is, and not just as we expect it to be or wish it to be.

Example: Gardner and Gardner (1969) the observers might have judged that Washoe was using real words because they wanted…