Quote:
Originally posted by zfleebin
Fearofmear: I enjoy science no matter what the discipline but I am amazed when scientists refer to psychology as a soft science. I agree the scales we use in psychology are not as precise as the ones used in chemistry and physics but the underlying process of science remains the same. So what exactly does one mean when they say psychology is a soft science? I have trouble understanding what is soft about psychology. Is that in reference to the theories we use or our research methods? Maybe you can enlighten me.
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I use the term "hard science" to refer to science based on mathematics i.e. chemistry, phsyics, biology, computer science and geology. (There are more just listing those off the top of my head). Something like psychology or sociology uses the scientific method and is definitely a true science, but is based more on social aspects, not mathematics. "Hard" is a term I have always heard referred to science based on mathematics. I didn't mean to offend anyone by that.