Features Of A Science Flashcards
What is a theory?
A collection of general principles
Explains observations and facts
Used to generate hypotheses
What is an observation?
First stage in a theory
Ideas on the world based on what we see
Theories are adjusted based on if they have been falsified
What is inductive theory construction?
= more IMMEDIATE
Observation -> hyp creation
Hyp testing =empirical
Conc drawn
New hyp created
New hyp tested
Theory constructed
Deductive theory Construction
Observation -> theory creation
Hyp creation
Hyp testing= empirical
Conc drawn
New hyp created
Theory may be redefined
New hyp tested
What is falsification?
= to prove/ declare something false
Science aims to do this to hyp- psychology must be able to do this to be a science
Popper= nothing can be proved ‘all swans white…’
What is a paradigm
A shared set of assumptions
On a matter of discipline
= a set of agreed beliefs
What does Kuhn argue in response to Popper? (Paradigms)
= against poppers idea of science as being explained via:
Induction and deduction
Instead, data should be collected based on accepted assumptions -> bias
Kuhn also thought there were 2 phases in science revolving around paradigm shifts
What is a paradigm shift?
When there are revolutionary changes
In scientific assumptions
Explain the 2 phases of a paradigm shift
Phase 1: normal science
1 theory= dominant
Evidence against it gathers
Original theory= falsified
Phase 2:
Revolutionary shift
New throry= dominant
Psych is pre- scientific as there are too many differences
=no universally accepted paradigm
What is the empirical method?
Science = abt acquiring knowledge
Via empirical method
Derived from observation x experiments
Theory = ONLY scientific if been empirically tested
What is objectivity?
Keeping critical distance
No researcher bias- to reduce this, we have…
Standardised instructions
Operationalised variables
Defined measurements
Double blinds
Peer review, test objectivity
What is replicability?
= repeating research to check validity
Only if research carefully written up
= another repeats it exactly
Arguments FOR psych as a science
Theories= based on empirical evidence
This produces unexpected results
Gone through paradigm shifts
Theories lead to developments for those with abnormal behaviours
Arguments AGAINST psych as science
Methods used =biased
Not possible to produce general laws
Not directly testable or objective
No accepted paradigm
