Controversies - Scientific Status

Question 1

What is the definition of science

Answer 1

“The systematic study of the nature and behaviour of material and physical universe, based on observation, experiment, and measurement, and the the formulation of laws to describe these facts in general terms”

Question 2

What are the features of science

Answer 2

• Empiricism
• Objectivity
• Theory/hypothesis testing
• control
• replicability
• falsifiability
• predictability
• paradigm

Question 3

What is empiricism

Answer 3

• empirical facts are physical facts that are backed up with physical evidence which have been measured in an objective way
• it doesn’t rely on arguments, ideas and beliefs
• instead it relies on directly observed information from methods such as: objective observation, experimentation, and measurement of behaviour

Question 4

What is objectivity

Answer 4

• objectivity refers to the absence of bias
• the researcher should remain unbiased and not influence the results with their thoughts feelings and opinions
• to increase objectivity, nothing should be open to interpretation and bias
• e.g.: standardised procedures, fully operationalised variables, double blind design, objective scientific measuring devices, peer review
• objectivity is essential for validity

Question 5

What is theory/hypothesis testing

Answer 5

• there’s a distinct procedure that research should follow in order to be scientific, called the ‘hypothetico deductive model’
  1) observation of naturalistic behaviour irl
  2) research question is developed
  3) which forms a hypothesis
  4) hypothesis is tested empirically and results establish whether we accept or reject it
  5) if accepted then conclusions can be made, a theories can be developed
  6) this may end up producing more questions and forming more hypothesises to be tested

Question 6

What is control

Answer 6

• best done in a laboratory setting where an IV can be controlled/manipulated and a DV is measured, whilst extraneous variables are controlled to prevent confounding the results
• controlled observations are also carried out in which variables are systematically tested with objective measurement in the form of predetermined behavioural categories using a standardised sampling method such as time or event sampling
• only causal relationships can be demonstrated with control, so its an important element of scientific status

Question 7

What is replicability

Answer 7

• the confidence in research findings that if it were replicated in exactly the same way, the results would be consistent
• replication helps guard against scientific fraud and enables psychologists to check whether results were just a one-off or not
• if results are consistent = results are accurate beyond reasonable doubt
• knowing results are reliable is vital in establishing theories

Question 8

What is falsifiability

Answer 8

• developed by Karl Popper (1935) it is the concept of testing scientific theories by trying to disprove them
• he proposed that no matter how many positive validations of a science theory there are, it doesn’t prove it is undeniably true
• one example of falsification is enough to render a theory untrue
• so psychological theory’s should be falsifiable in order to be a scientific theory, i.e. could be proved false…but haven’s yet

Question 9

What is predictability

Answer 9

• one of the aims of science is to develop generalisable laws in order to make predictions about future events or behaviours
• this gives us the opportunity of control or prevention

Question 10

What is a paradigm

Answer 10

• Thomas Kuhn (1962) developed the idea of a paradigm: a general theory or law that’s accepted by the majority of scientists in a particular field of study
• it’s a set of assumptions which govern the subject, providing the basic assumptions, key concepts and methodology
• a paradigm isn’t fixed and as more hypotheses are tested, results won’t fit the paradigm causing it to be rejected and replaced with a new paradigm (this process is called a paradigm shift)
• there are 3 distinct stages in the development of science
• pre-science: no paradigm exists and it has a theoretical approach
• normal science: generally accepted paradigm that can account for all phenomena related to the subject and explain findings.
• revolutionary science: when paradigm shifts have occurred, and a new one has replaced the old