When people think of the core STEM fields, psychology doesn't typically spring to mind. However, it is a research-based field that is closely tied to neuroscience. As a psychology major, I spoke to two of my professors to gain insight on how this field fits into the STEM sciences.
Dr. McLeish, a graduate of Duke University, has strong clinical experience in psychology. Techniques that she has used with clients are supported by experimental designs in research. In her opinion, psychology is a “soft science”. She states that psychology primarily involves people in research, as opposed to numbers, which is no less scientifically rigorous. This assertion supports psychology as a STEM discipline.
Dr. Lyle is a graduate of Yale University and conducts memory research. He is currently conducting a study investigating college students’ retention of previously-learned information. A published study of his on this topic investigated how students who are engineering majors retrieve math knowledge (specifically, calculus) information. Not only does Dr. Lyle hold the opinion that psychology should be considered a field of STEM, but his own research contributes to the success of other STEM disciplines.
Because of its scientific approaches, which might include qualitative science or quantitative experimental design, I too view psychology as a STEM discipline. I am a psychology major on a pre-law track and can think of a number of ways that psychology research can be applied to the field of law. Psychology research can impact numerous other fields, and its research elements can be qualified as a part of STEM.
