The methods used from a mainstream position are quantitative, whilst the ones used from a critical position are qualitative. The most common method used in mainstream social psychology is the Scientific method. They claim that this method is the only valid to obtain knowledge, which totally objective and unaffected by bias, culture, etc. The scientific method provides facts, cause and effect relationships and reduces everything into numbers. Because what is more objective than numbers? From this position, social psychology should be treated as a natural science, and such as natural science it should be objective, neutral and value free. Consequently, the use of the scientific method is exactly what it provides. Nevertheless, is not the human being the sum of its experiences, beliefs and culture? How can this position reduces the human behaviour into numbers and graphics without taking into account the
The methods used from a mainstream position are quantitative, whilst the ones used from a critical position are qualitative. The most common method used in mainstream social psychology is the Scientific method. They claim that this method is the only valid to obtain knowledge, which totally objective and unaffected by bias, culture, etc. The scientific method provides facts, cause and effect relationships and reduces everything into numbers. Because what is more objective than numbers? From this position, social psychology should be treated as a natural science, and such as natural science it should be objective, neutral and value free. Consequently, the use of the scientific method is exactly what it provides. Nevertheless, is not the human being the sum of its experiences, beliefs and culture? How can this position reduces the human behaviour into numbers and graphics without taking into account the