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Is psychology a real science?
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Psychology follows the scientific method

Psychology follows the same steps to obtaining conclusions as in any scientific field. Therefore it is, by definition, a science.
Psychology Science

The Argument

Hard sciences use the scientific method to draw conclusions about the natural world. The scientific method involves observing, measuring, gathering data, testing hypotheses, experimenting, and developing theories.[1] Psychology employs every facet of the scientific method, and must be considered a hard science.

Counter arguments

Simply using the scientific method does not make psychology a science. Science observes concrete cause and effect processes which reveal truths about how the world works.[1] Psychology relies on observing human behaviors which are unpredictable, yielding conclusions which are abstract at best.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Psychology is a science because it employs the scientific method.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Using the scientific method alone isn't enough to classify something as a science.

References

  1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201601/the-is-psychology-science-debate
This page was last edited on Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 13:43 UTC

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