Approach evaluation points
Distinction Task
Term Definition/ Buzzwords
Scientific ● Reliable (the results are replicable)
● Quantitative data (numbers)
● Objective, less biased (valid)
● Creditworthy (trusted)
Unscientific ● Low reliability (difficult to replicate the results)
● Qualitative data
● Potentially subjective and biased (low validity)
● Uncreditworthy (not trusted)
Reductionist ● Break down complex behaviour into smaller parts
● Allows for focus/detailed results
● Scientific methods used
● May not be valid if doesn’t consider the whole
person or ignores other factors/explanations
Holistic ● Considers more than one explanation or measures
more than one variable/factor
● Harder to be focussed/ accurate
● Less detail
● Less scientific
Nature ● Biological or innate (inherited) causes of behaviour:
Biological psychology
● Reductionist
● Scientific (reliable, valid)
Nurture ● Environmental/situational causes of behaviour:
Social/ Learning theories
● Reductionist
● Scientific to an extent, but less than biological
Distinction Task
Term Definition/ Buzzwords
Scientific ● Reliable (the results are replicable)
● Quantitative data (numbers)
● Objective, less biased (valid)
● Creditworthy (trusted)
Unscientific ● Low reliability (difficult to replicate the results)
● Qualitative data
● Potentially subjective and biased (low validity)
● Uncreditworthy (not trusted)
Reductionist ● Break down complex behaviour into smaller parts
● Allows for focus/detailed results
● Scientific methods used
● May not be valid if doesn’t consider the whole
person or ignores other factors/explanations
Holistic ● Considers more than one explanation or measures
more than one variable/factor
● Harder to be focussed/ accurate
● Less detail
● Less scientific
Nature ● Biological or innate (inherited) causes of behaviour:
Biological psychology
● Reductionist
● Scientific (reliable, valid)
Nurture ● Environmental/situational causes of behaviour:
Social/ Learning theories
● Reductionist
● Scientific to an extent, but less than biological
