Should Psychology Be a Science?: Pros and Cons

Jock Abra

Bloomsbury Academic, Mar 30, 1998 - Psychology - 249 pages

The past century has seen many changes in the study of psychology. One of those major changes was the adoption of scientific principles to define and build the discipline of psychology. These principles were manifested in the discipline's method of investigation and subject matter. For many, this constituted a revolution in the study of psychology. This work examines the results of this revolution and asks whether it has been beneficial.

The author explains how the psychology-science union came about and examines the positive and negative results. He then describes the major characteristics of science (empiricism, generalization, hypotheses, theories, and models, analysis, reductionism, and determinism), explaining how each principle was utilized in regard to psychology. Dr. Abra also includes information on psychology's most eminent authorities who have fundamentally influenced its directions.

About the author

JOCK ABRA is Professor of Psychology at the University of Calgary.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Should Psychology Be a Science?: Pros and Cons
• Author: Jock Abra
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic, 1998
• ISBN: 0275954765, 9780275954765
• Length: 249 pages
• Subjects: Psychology / General; Psychology / Research & Methodology; Science / Research & Methodology