Abstract

COVARRUBIAS PAPAHIU, Patricia. The scientific nature of Psychology: A study about the representations of Psychology students. Perfiles educativos [online]. 2009, vol.31, n.126, pp. 8-29. ISSN 0185-2698.

This article offers an analysis of the ideas and representations that Psychology students have about science, scientific knowledge and how this is constructed, together with the way they conceive Psychology as a scientific discipline. From a psycho-social point of view and putting into practice a qualitative methodology, the author interviewed students enrolled in the last year of the degree course, and just graduated students as well. The results show a great influence of the positivist approach to science within the students' representations about how knowledge is constructed and about Psychology as a science, and also that they have a totally un-historical view of its development and current configuration.

Keywords : Science; Psychology; Scientific knowledge; Representations; University students.