Hard and Soft Science Essay

1 Written Assignment

Some have argued that psychology is NOT a science. This view is certainly false, as any field that uses the scientific method IS a science. However, psychology has been categorized as a “soft science” as opposed to a “hard science” (such as chemistry or physics). Recent studies examining scientific fields has suggested that there may be no difference between a “hard” and a “soft” science in terms of advances in knowledge, reliability, validity, etc. In this brief written assignment, please provide what you believe to be the best definitions of a “hard” and a “soft” science, then take a position as to whether psychology best fits one or the other (or neither) – and DEFEND your position. (250-500 words)