FEATURES OF A SCIENCE Flashcards
1
Q
Empirical methods
A
- refers to gaining info via direct **sensory experiences **
- this enables scientists to make claims about the truth or theory.
2
Q
Objectivity
A
- empirical data should always be objective
- this means not affected by expectations or bias/ opinions of the researcher
- psychology research attempts this but is sometimes objective
3
Q
Control
A
- we should use careful controlled conditions
- more control over extraneous variables we have the moré likely our study is valid.
- psychology find it hard to control as they can control variables to an extent
4
Q
Replicability
A
- being able to replicate research guards against fraud
- we can be more confident in results if we can replicate them.
5
Q
Theory construction
A
- we construct theories to help make predictions we must then test it several times to make sure it’s valid
6
Q
Hypothesis testing
A
- we test theories by creating hypothesis we look to prove our hypothesis wrong by falsifying it
7
Q
Falsifiability
A
- any hypothesis that cannot be falsified are seen as strong scientific theory
8
Q
A paradigm
A
- a shared set of assumptions and methods
9
Q
A paradigm shift
A
- animportant change in these shared assumptions/ methods. (One theory is dominant until eventually the evidence accumulates until a theory can no longer be maintained and is overthrown). E.g. the world being flat / evolution.
