Basics Flashcards
What is the philosophy of science?
The structure, components, and principles of the scientific process. It is the study of the nature of knowledge.
What is epistemology?
It is what distinguishes justified belief from opinion. It distinguishes true (adequate) knowledge from false (inadequate knowledge). It is a way of acquiring knowledge.
What are the four types of epistemology?
Authority, tenacity, logic and reasoning, and the scientific inquiry.
What is the epistemology of authority?
It is when you accept a truth as it comes from experts.
What is the epistemology of tenacity?
Truth that comes from cultural beliefs and traditions.
What is the epistemology of logic and reasoning?
Truth from inference or reasoning. Understanding phenomena by analyzing with our minds what we observe with our senses.
What is a syllogism?
A logical argument consisting of two premises and a conclusion. There is correlation in this but not causality. Conclusions drawn from two propositions which share term with a conclusion and share a common term NOT in the conclusion.
Give an example of a syllogism.
People who smoke cigarettes have a high rate of cancer. People who do not smoke cigarettes have a low rate of cancer. Therefore, smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer.
What is the problem with logic and reasoning?
We are subjective in our knowledge and it is subject to fallacies (a technical flaw in our argument).
What are the types of fallacies?
Cum hoc ergo propter hoc: with this, therefore because of this (conclusion about causation from a correlation between two events that occur simultaneously).
Post hoc ergo propter hoc: after this, therefore because of this (caused) (conclusion about causality based on correlation of Y following X).
Accident fallacy: general rule to a specific situation (birds can fly)
Converse accident: prejudice to a group (rule applied to exceptional case is applied to general cases)
What is empiricism?
The theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. The heart of scientific inquiry which emphasizes evidence. Our understanding on phenomena is derived from direct experience considered as evidence (true knowledge is a product of sensory perceptions gleaned from observation; rather than a priori). Uses both inductive and deductive logic. Uses hypothesis testing, theory development, and data**.
What is a theory?
An idea based on observations that guides the RQ.
What is the process of empiricism?
Hypothesis -> deduction -> predictions -> observation -“ testing -> induction -> hypothesis
What is a hypothesis?
A statement that specifies the relationship between variables.
How is a theory different from a hypothesis?
Theories are not proven or disproven, generally. Hypotheses can be directly tested.
What are two types of theories?
Exploratory and phenomenological (most are phenomenological).
Describe inductivism.
Exploratory.
Starts by observing and ends with theory.
May be necessary to uncover relationships when little is known.
Facts to general.
Describe deductivism.
Confirmatory.
Starts with a theory and ends with test results.
Gold standard for scientific research.
From general to specific.
What is the falsification principle?
Karl Popper introduced the concept that theory consists of hypotheses that can be falsified.
The idea that scientists must begin with a hypothesis that can be refuted.
The necessity for a scientific theory to be falsified is the demarcation criterion.
What is the Belmont Report?
Written in 1979 by National Commission for Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and BH Research. Identifies ethical principles that should underlie conduct of research involving HS and ensure that such research is conducted in accordance with those principles.
Three rules of Belmont Report?
Respect for Persons
Beneficence
Justice
What is the principle of respect for persons?
Autonomy
Full disclosure of risks and benefits
Informed consent is a process
Consider information, comprehension, and voluntariness
What is the principle of beneficence?
Minimize risks and maximize benefits.
What is the principle of justice?
Study population should be beneficiary of findings.
Research should ensure procedures are administered fairly and equally (should not exclude a population from PPT if they might benefit)
Inclusion of women, children, minorities, and across lifespan
