Features Of A Science

Question 1

what are the features of a science?

Answer 1

• paradigms and paradigm shifts
• theory construction and hypothesis testing
• falsifiability
• replicability
• objectivity and the empirical methods

Question 2

what is a paradigm?

Answer 2

shared set of assumptions and methods

Question 3

what does Kuhn suggest distinguishes scientific to non-scientific disciplines?

Answer 3

parardigms

Question 4

what are social sciences best seen as?

Answer 4

• ‘pre-science’ as social sciences lack a universally accepted paradigm

Question 5

when does Kuhn say that progress within an established science occur?

Answer 5

• when there is a scientific revolution

Question 6

when does a paradigm shift occur?

Answer 6

• handful of researchers question the accepted paradigm
• the critique begins to gain popularity and pace
• eventually a paradigm shift occurs when there is too much contradictory evidence to ignore

Question 7

what is a theory?

Answer 7

set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain particular events or behaviours

Question 8

what is theory construction?

Answer 8

occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation

Question 9

what should theory suggest a number of?

Answer 9

possible hypotheses

Question 10

what is hypothesis testing?

Answer 10

uses systematic and objective methods to determine whether it will be supported or refuted

Question 11

if the hypothesis is supported…

Answer 11

the theory will be strengthed

Question 12

if the hypothesis is refuted…

Answer 12

the theory will need to be revised or revisited

Question 13

what is the process of deduction?

Answer 13

process of deriving new hypotheses from an existing theory

Question 14

what is the theory of falsification?

Answer 14

Popper drew the line between good science, in which theories are constantly challenged and therefore can potentially be falsified

Question 15

what is a ‘pseudoscience’?

Answer 15

can’t be falsisfied

Question 16

what is a strong theory (falsification)?

Answer 16

• theories that survive the most attempts to falsify them become the strongest( not necessarily a true theory)

Question 17

what types of hypothesis should always be involved(falsification)?

Answer 17

alternative hypothesis must always be accompanied by a null hypothesis

Question 18

what is an important element of Popper’s hypothetico-deductive method?

Answer 18

replicability

Question 19

if a theory is ‘trusted’…

Answer 19

the findings must be shown to be repeatable across a number of different contents and circumstances

Question 20

replication has an important role in…

Answer 20

determining the validity of a finding

Question 21

what can be seen by repeating a study in different contexts and circumstances?

Answer 21

the extent to which the binding can be generalised

Question 22

what must happen for replicability to be possible?

Answer 22

• vital that psychologists report their investigations with as much precision and rigour as possible

Question 23

objectivity is the basis of…

Answer 23

the empirical method

Question 24

what must scientists strive for?

Answer 24

• to maintain objectivity(a ‘critical distance’ during research)
• must not allow their personal opinions of biases to ‘discolour’ the data they collect or influence the behaviour of ppts they are studying

Question 25

what types of experiments tend to be the most objective?

Answer 25

• lab experiments

Question 26

what are empirical methods?

Answer 26

they emphasise the importance of data collection based on direct, sensory experience
- experimental and observational methods

Question 27

what is empiricism?

Answer 27

experiences

Question 28

what is Locke’s view on objectivity and the empirical methods?

Answer 28

a theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested and verified