Psychology

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Can you explain to me why psychology is not a true science?

-- Kiunda Wright (Kiunda@hotmail.com), September 26, 2001

Answers

Hi Kiunda,

Well there are explainations and then there are explainations. In the end, the answer which will satisfy you is going to depend on what you hold science to be, and any answer to your question will of course require some very abstract discourse. Before we approach what psychology is in relation to science, let's re-visit your question and avoid jumping to conclusions regarding the unsatisfactory nature between "true science" and psychology which your question sugests, or Who told you psychology wasn't a true science?

Friends of mine who are biologists have said to me, psychology isn't a science. I think their major arguement was that psychologists didn't have a consensus on variables/objects of study within the discipline. Also there is a saying that goes, "No math, no science." And psychology is notorious for the vagueness of its countables. And there is an issue about universal statements, discriptive formulations like Ohms Law. You'll want to do some reading to get the gist of the above. Somewhere, in Science magazine, S.S. Stevens wrote an article on measurement regarding psychology; if you take the trouble to read that small history of psychology in England, it presents the counting issue. On the topic of science as a formula, read an article on E. Mach's views of science.

Before I suggest more reading for you, I just want to say that my biologist friends told me psychology wasn't a science before I had studied the philosophy of science and before I knew much about what their science claimed. Since that time, I have to say that the "science" of biology (or any other of the "hard" sciences) have sunk in my opinion and the "science of psychology" has risen. In short, their own scientific claims seem to have a little less of a secure anchor in truth and beauty than I would hope for.

You might be interested in reading Edwin R. Guthrie on this topic in Sigmund Koch (Ed.), Psychology: A study of a Science. Vol 2. beginning on page 161. Like I said, in the end an answer that satisfies you will depend upon what you decide science is for you. Meantime, don't be so ready to believe everything you hear. Good luck, David

-- david clark (doclark@yorku.ca), September 26, 2001.


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