Psychology among the Sciences: Comparisons of Numbers of Theories and Laws Cited in Textbooks

Abstract

A measure called “theories-to-laws ratio” (number of cited theories divided by number of cited laws in textbooks) was used to assess hypotheses concerning the concept of an “hierarchy of sciences” and psychology's place among the sciences. (1) The ratio will be well-balanced, i.e., show low values, for the “natural” sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and be poorly balanced, i.e., show high values, for the “social” sciences (anthropology, sociology). (2) The theories-to-laws ratio of psychology will be closer to the mean of the “social” sciences than to the mean of the “natural” sciences. Analysis showed a 67% agreement between the present data and the predicted “hierarchy of sciences” relative ordering of the sciences so Hypotheses 1 and 2 were confirmed. Other quantitative measures, in addition to this ratio, might be developed to evaluate further psychology's place among the sciences.