Features Of A Science Flashcards
what are the features of a science?
- paradigms and paradigm shifts
- theory construction and hypothesis testing
- falsifiability
- replicability
- objectivity and the empirical methods
what is a paradigm?
shared set of assumptions and methods
what does Kuhn suggest distinguishes scientific to non-scientific disciplines?
parardigms
what are social sciences best seen as?
- ‘pre-science’ as social sciences lack a universally accepted paradigm
when does Kuhn say that progress within an established science occur?
- when there is a scientific revolution
when does a paradigm shift occur?
- 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
what is a theory?
set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain particular events or behaviours
what is theory construction?
occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation
what should theory suggest a number of?
possible hypotheses
what is hypothesis testing?
uses systematic and objective methods to determine whether it will be supported or refuted
if the hypothesis is supported…
the theory will be strengthed
if the hypothesis is refuted…
the theory will need to be revised or revisited
what is the process of deduction?
process of deriving new hypotheses from an existing theory
what is the theory of falsification?
Popper drew the line between good science, in which theories are constantly challenged and therefore can potentially be falsified
what is a ‘pseudoscience’?
can’t be falsisfied
what is a strong theory (falsification)?
- theories that survive the most attempts to falsify them become the strongest( not necessarily a true theory)
what types of hypothesis should always be involved(falsification)?
alternative hypothesis must always be accompanied by a null hypothesis
what is an important element of Popper’s hypothetico-deductive method?
replicability
if a theory is ‘trusted’…
the findings must be shown to be repeatable across a number of different contents and circumstances
replication has an important role in…
determining the validity of a finding
what can be seen by repeating a study in different contexts and circumstances?
the extent to which the binding can be generalised
what must happen for replicability to be possible?
- vital that psychologists report their investigations with as much precision and rigour as possible
objectivity is the basis of…
the empirical method
what must scientists strive for?
- 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
what types of experiments tend to be the most objective?
- lab experiments
what are empirical methods?
they emphasise the importance of data collection based on direct, sensory experience
- experimental and observational methods
what is empiricism?
experiences
what is Locke’s view on objectivity and the empirical methods?
a theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested and verified
