Summary A level Psychology Research methods 'features of science' notes (AQA)
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Course
Features of science
Institution
AQA
Psychology notes that gained me an A* at A Level. I created this using textbooks, mark schemes, class notes and my own further research to provide a comprehensive set of notes. This is formatted according to the AQA psychology specification, where each point is covered, but regardless of the exam b...
Features of science
Objectivity
Scientists strive to maintain objectivity – they don’t allow personal opinions or
biases to affect the data they collect or influence the behaviour of p’s.
Scientists should keep a critical distance during their research. Lab exp do best
here.
For example the behaviourist, biological and cognitive approaches use lab
studies to investigate their theories which are highly controlled therefore
unbiased by the researchers own beliefs. In comparison to psychodynamic
theorists who mainly use case studies to then generalise but their findings are
subjective as they are the researcher’s interpretation.
Some aspects try to be objective (behavioural). But P’s in psychology seek clues
as to how should behave. Demand characteristics. Investigator affects it e.g.
Milgram. But problems of objectivity exist in natural sciences as well. By
studying things we change their behaviour.
Empirical method
Science should gain info through direct observation and experimentation. Not
reasoned argument, unfounded beliefs.
Replicability
Replicability, if a scientific theory is to be trusted, the findings must be shown
to be repeatable. Replicability is needed for: validity, generalisability,
reliability, confidence in results. Means psychologists must report their
investigations with as much precision and rigour as possible so other
researchers can seek to verify their work and findings established.
Not possible for psychology, impossible to repeat exactly as changes over time.
More difficult in approaches that use case studies/interviews.
Theory construction
Scientists test theories, general laws or principles that explain particularly
behaviours. TC occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation.
Make clear and precise predictions on the basis of the theory, hypothesis
testing. An essential component of a theory is that it can then be scientifically
tested – deduction.
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