Defining Psychology as a Science

Issues and Debates – The Replication Crisis

In this course, Dr Ayoub Bouguettaya (University of Birmingham) explores a key shortcoming in the field of psychological science – replication. In the first lecture, we explore the concept of replication and define science in terms of three key criteria: reliable and valid theory which can predict outcomes, theories that can be disproven by quantifiable experimentation, and theories that are altered or withdrawn in the light of new findings. In the second lecture, we explore reliability and outline three core issues facing psychological science: quantifiable measures, theories that cannot be disproven, and unrefined theories. In the third and fourth lectures, we explore the definition of validity, its variety of forms, and the challenges associated with formulating valid research. Next, we think about the interrelatedness of validity and reliability, as well as returning to this idea of replication and the many famous studies which have failed either conceptual or exact replication. In the sixth and final lecture, we think about the ways in which the field of psychology is tackling these problems and conclude on two different perspectives on whether psychology can be considered a true science.

Defining Psychology as a Science

In this lecture, we think about replicability, focusing in particular on: (i) a number of studies and their results, posing the question of whether you would expect the results found to occur again if the study was repeated; (ii) the concept of psychology as a science, starting by outlining Sir Karl Popper’s scientific definition and focusing on the importance of a null hypothesis in this description; (iii) defining science in terms of three criteria: reliable and valid theory which can predict outcomes, theories that can potentially be disproven by quantifiable experimentation, and theories that can be altered or withdrawn in the light of new findings.