Research & Ethhical Issues

The cycle of scientific enquiry:

Why is psychology not seen as scientific?

Is Psychology Scientific?

Empirical observation

Testing

(deduction)

Inability to control all human variables underlying behaviour

Accurate control and prediction is almost impossible

Cannot establish universal laws of human behaviour

How can human emotions be measured?

Developing, refining

Most psychological explanations are the result of systematic study

Many psychologists accept that behaviour can be determined

Involves empirical investigation and the development of theories

Theories are repeatedly tested and refined

Slife & Williams (1995)

Rational analysis

(theory)

Three positions on whether psychology can be seen as scientific:

• Scientific methods must be used and all theories should be subject to rigorous testing. The claims of a theory must be demonstrated through actual, observable behaviour
• Qualitative methods are required to study human experience rather than attempting to measure and quantify behaviour. The researcher should question, describe and interpret the individual's experience
• Researchers should be open to a range of methods; one method is no more superior than another

Ethical issues activity:

Watch the you tube clips that follow and identify the ethical issues within them:

Watson & Rayner - Little Albert (1920)

Harlow's Monkeys (1958)

Are case studies scientific?

Surveys:

Include questionnaires and interviews

Designed to collect mainly quantitative, with some qualitative data

Questionnaires involve large scale data collection made up of closed and/or open questions. Examples: Holmes & Rahe (1967); Friedman & Rosenman (1974)

Interviews: structured (quantitative), semi-structured or unstructured (qualitative). Examples: Milgram, Asch (after experiment)

Questionnaires & Scientific Enquiry:

Strengths:

Quick & cheap method of collecting a lot of quantitative data

Could generate hypotheses for testing

via other empirical methods

Limitations:

Reliability issues - similar results if repeated?

Validity - How truthful are the answers?

Difficult to compare any qualitative data

Limitations:

Not scientific method

Can't be replicated

Not objective

Not specific, measurable subject matter

No theory or hypothesis to test

Strengths:

Deep insight into

individual human

experience

Helps understanding of what it is like to be human

Qualitative data

Case Studies:

Conclusion

• Gather detailed information, over a long period of time, usually in the natural environment of the subject

• May use a range of other research methods to gather information from different sources

• Freud - Little Hans, Anna O

What is Science?

BPS - Code of Ethics

In relation to human participants guidelines consider:

Standpoint of participant

Deception

Informed consent

Debriefing

Right to withdraw

Confidentiality

Protection from physical and mental harm

Respect for privacy and well-being

Realistic observations

Inform participants of harm to future well-being

Ethical considerations must be taken into account in all psychological investigations.

The experiments and observations of the 20th century would not be authorised to be conducted today.

Characteristics of Science

"The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment."

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/science

Zimbardo - Stanford Prison Experiment (1973)

• Must be a specific subject matter

• Must be a theory or hypothesis to test

• Use of empirical methods, e.g. investigation, experimentation, observation

• Such theories must be testable and refined through further study if necessary

• Scientific investigations should be objective, within controlled conditions and able to make predictions about what is expected to happen

• Should attempt to discover general laws that govern human behaviour & mental processes (in relation to psychology) and that are universal (apply to all people)

Milgram - Electric Shock Experment (1974)

Research & Ethhical Issues