Reductionism If the theory is reductionist Reductionism allows concepts Makes complex behaviour :) helps to predict behaviour explanations of the phenomena to be very simplistic easily tested….. (vs holism) being studied have been reduced Useful implications- can inform to their most simple components. Controlled lab There are other treatment conditions… explanations or factors that we have valid and we may be ignoring :( Eliminates other possibly more …so – reliable research. social, psychological effective or suitable treatments. This makes sense in science Difficult to generalise Treats the not the “problem” individual Psychology as a Behaviour is predictable Reductionist :) Can inform useful treatments/ Science refers to either:* the science interventions scientific method a process for – Research is controllable Demand characteristics evaluating empirical knowledge; or* (Valid), replicable and reliable Cannot be used for all paradigms the organized body of knowledge Ecological validity gained by this process Falsifiable Can research truly ever Objective be… Objective? Replicable?
Reductionism (vs holism) If the theory is reductionist explanations of the phenomena being studied have been reduced to their most simple components. Reductionism allows concepts to be easily tested….. Controlled lab conditions… …so we have valid and reliable research. This makes sense in science Makes complex behaviour very simplistic There are other explanations or factors that we may be ignoring – social, psychological Difficult to generalise :) helps to predict behaviour Useful implications- can inform treatment :( Eliminates other possibly more effective or suitable treatments. Treats the “problem” not the individual Psychology as a science Science refers to either:* the scientific method – a process for evaluating empirical knowledge; or* the organized body of knowledge gained by this process Behaviour is predictable Research is controllable (Valid), replicable and reliable Falsifiable Objective Reductionist Demand characteristics Ecological validity Can research truly ever be… Objective? Replicable? :) Can inform useful treatments/ interventions Cannot be used for all paradigms