Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Is psychology a real science?
Position‹2 of 3›

Psychology is not a real science

This position holds that psychology is not a real science. It argues that its findings are too often inconclusive and irreproducible, that researchers can fudge results, and that — unlike the hard sciences — psychology lacks an agreed central body of established knowledge.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Psychology's findings are inconclusive
    Even though psychology follows the scientific method, the conclusions that it reaches are only theoretical at best.
  2. Researchers can fudge their results
    The conclusions reached by researchers in psychology can be altered to suit the needs of the researcher and can be unreliable.
  3. Psychology doesn't have an agreed upon central body of knowledge
    Unlike each of the hard sciences, psychology fails to deliver a concrete body of knowledge that is universally agreed upon by professionals in the field.