Basics

Question 1

What is the philosophy of science?

Answer 1

The structure, components, and principles of the scientific process. It is the study of the nature of knowledge.

Question 2

What is epistemology?

Answer 2

It is what distinguishes justified belief from opinion. It distinguishes true (adequate) knowledge from false (inadequate knowledge). It is a way of acquiring knowledge.

Question 3

What are the four types of epistemology?

Answer 3

Authority, tenacity, logic and reasoning, and the scientific inquiry.

Question 4

What is the epistemology of authority?

Answer 4

It is when you accept a truth as it comes from experts.

Question 5

What is the epistemology of tenacity?

Answer 5

Truth that comes from cultural beliefs and traditions.

Question 6

What is the epistemology of logic and reasoning?

Answer 6

Truth from inference or reasoning. Understanding phenomena by analyzing with our minds what we observe with our senses.

Question 7

What is a syllogism?

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Give an example of a syllogism.

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What is the problem with logic and reasoning?

Answer 9

We are subjective in our knowledge and it is subject to fallacies (a technical flaw in our argument).

Question 10

What are the types of fallacies?

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

What is empiricism?

Answer 11

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**.

Question 12

What is a theory?

Answer 12

An idea based on observations that guides the RQ.

Question 13

What is the process of empiricism?

Answer 13

Hypothesis -> deduction -> predictions -> observation -“ testing -> induction -> hypothesis

Question 14

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 14

A statement that specifies the relationship between variables.

Question 15

How is a theory different from a hypothesis?

Answer 15

Theories are not proven or disproven, generally. Hypotheses can be directly tested.

Question 16

What are two types of theories?

Answer 16

Exploratory and phenomenological (most are phenomenological).

Question 17

Describe inductivism.

Answer 17

Exploratory.
Starts by observing and ends with theory.
May be necessary to uncover relationships when little is known.
Facts to general.

Question 18

Describe deductivism.

Answer 18

Confirmatory.
Starts with a theory and ends with test results.
Gold standard for scientific research.
From general to specific.

Question 19

What is the falsification principle?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

What is the Belmont Report?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Three rules of Belmont Report?

Answer 21

Respect for Persons
Beneficence
Justice

Question 22

What is the principle of respect for persons?

Answer 22

Autonomy
Full disclosure of risks and benefits
Informed consent is a process
Consider information, comprehension, and voluntariness

Question 23

What is the principle of beneficence?

Answer 23

Minimize risks and maximize benefits.

Question 24

What is the principle of justice?

Answer 24

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