I think they are real scientists, trying to use the scientific method of testing hypotheses in order to arrive at a bit of knowledge. But consider the beast they are trying to tackle... its huge! The human mind... what could be more complex, more shrouded in mystery. Cant say I know much about it, I'm a physics person myself. It must be hard for them to get results, results that are useful to us as people.

There is the distinction made between hard science (physics/chem/etc) and others (psychology/sociology). They are not entirely the same