Question

Explain why psychology is considered a science. Are there any subfields that appear to have more scientific background than others (if so, provide the justification)?

Answer 1

• Psychology is considered a social science because psychological principles affect social life - people and institutions alike. Oftentimes, the purpose of any psychological research is to make the world a better place to live in, that is, socially.Psychology uses the scientific method to study behaviors and mental processes.
• Problems in Psychology may spring from curiosity of a psychological phenomenon or skepticism of a particular theory. For example, a Psychologist may ask what effects stress has on memory, or he may question the degree in which nature or the environment affect human behavior. Whatever the source of the problem may be, it is imperative that a Psychologist clarifies the psychological concepts used in stating the problem, along with the possible hypotheses that can be generated from it.
• It also relies on on systematic methods of data collection and analysis through :Systematic observation;Measurement and quantification;Data gathering and hypothesis testing;Controlled experimentation and theory construction.
• Cognitive psychology – adopts a scientific approach to unobservable mental processes by advancing precise models and conducting experiments upon behavior to confirm or refute them.