A real science uses the scientific method to draw conclusions and make predictions, and their claims can be tested experimentally. There are no objective tests for psychological illness. There does exist behavioral patterns, and based how people behave, psychology places them into different categories. Recognition of patterns is a good observation that can help us make predictions, but given the current nature of the mental health professions, it would be a huge stretch to call what they do a science.

This post was edited by xxx_aria on Apr 3 2016 10:46am

Who sets up the rules for the scientific method and how is this process done?
Whats the difference between experimental and observational and what does it mean for astronomy for example?
Do we see mathematics as a real science?
Given any computer-based IQ-Test: How can it fail the criteria of objectivity?

I'm with you when it comes to some mehtal health professionists. Sometimes it looks like some of them wouldn't care about the scientific paradigms to much, but can you judge the rule by oserving someone who doesn't follow it?
However, psychology is a lot more than clinical diagnostics.

The scientific method is logical, historically evident, and propagated by the modern scientific community.

Observation is one component of an experiment. For astronomy, the experiments are done on earth, for example emission spectra of gases, and that understanding is applied to astronomical observations.

Math is a language, a very objective one for that matter, which is why it's favored in science.

I believe actual IQ tests must be done in person. The computer based test you mention are not objective. I can take a test and pretend to be dumb.

Saying that psychology uses a clinical approach is also false, because there is no gold standard test to verify any of the psychological illnesses.

a paradigma is set up by the scientific community of each science. Guess what that means for your definition of "real science"...

experimental means that there is an indipendent variable that is systematically manipulated by the experimentator. How to manipulate black holes and stuff? Thats nice because you can make predictions about causality (if the internal validity of your exeriment is given).

So math is not a science?

Objectivity means: it doesn't matter who does the test, who calculates the results and who makes the interpretation. Thats given for a lot of tests and questionairs. Objectivity is one of the big pros of computerbased testing (beside of other great benefits). You are talking about reliability and validity. So your belief about IQ tests is against the scientific method of the discipline

What are common methods used in clinical psychology and diagnostics?

You ask lot of questions, and I've wasted my time with you

This post was edited by xxx_aria on Apr 5 2016 03:31pm

i ask a lot of questions caus you seem to be the man who is able to answere them

however, you didn't waste your time since you were able to learn something

Yes I learned to not waste time on this site explaining things to people too lazy to capitalize the first letter of their sentences.

this + what objectivity means

Your sarcasm is as bad as your grammar.

oh nooo

is it as bad as your knowledge about psychology?