Strengths and weaknesses of approaches

Weaknesses of individual differences

Validity of psychometric tests eg validity tests can be questioned

Relies too much on case studies, hard to generalise from

Lacks validity - cannot directly observe thinking hard to make guesses which could be wrong

Lacks eco validity - as lab experiments preferred research method

Strengths of physiological approach

Scientific as grounded in biology, and uses highly technical equipment

Great deal of evidence suggesting that human action strongly influenced by biological factors

Studies abnormal people in depth, great understanding of mental illness achieved and suggestions can emerge for treatment

Useful - understandable how children learn and their capability at different ages

Strengths of developmental approach

Freq involved studying children, so can work out normal behaviour. Any abnormal behaviour can lead to professional intervention

Useful - understanding how children learn and their capability at different ages

Research catches eye of people outside psychology which gets wider public attention and advances subject

Emphasis on controlled scientific study, meaning that research can be replicated to see if findings are reliable

Weaknesses of dev approach

Research restricted, children not sophisticated at writing or communicating true feelings

Ethics as children used

Relies too much on case studies hard to generalise from

Useful can have many practical applications

Weaknesses of social approach

Research dated as comes from real life events that world has moved on from

Can be ethnocentric as studies social behaviour from real life events in particular place, so cannot be applied to cultures

Computer analogy reductionist - does not take into account of environmental factors etc

Lacks validity - guesses made, as cannot directly observe thinking

Strengths of individual differences

Studies abnormal people in depth, great understanding of mental illness and suggestions can emerge for treatment

Can help psychologigists avoid the patronising and and incorrect suggestion that people behave the same in the same situation

Useful can have many applications

Research catches eye of people outside psychology, which advances subject further

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