Why can psychology be viewed as a branch of science?
Psychology can be viewed as a branch of science because psychologists adopt the scientific methods in their efforts to study human behavior. What values are central to the scientific method? Values central to the scientific method include accuracy, objectivity, skepticism, and open-mindedness. What are theories and what is their role in the scientific method? Theories organize existing knowledge and make predictions that can be tested in research. They help scientists attain explanations of natural phenomena understanding of why certain events or processes occur as they do. Why is common sense such an uncertain guide to human behavior? Common sense often suggests inconsistent and contradictory conclusions about behavior, and is influenced by several important forms of bias. What are the confirmation bias, availability heuristic, and intuitive thinking, and what role do they play in our efforts to understand human behavior? These are cognitive errors we make in thinking about the world
