Features Of Psychology As A Science Flashcards
What are the key features of science?
Objectivity, replicability, and falsifiability
These features ensure that scientific research is credible and can be trusted.
Define empiricism.
Belief that factual knowledge can only come from our experience with the world.
Empiricism emphasizes the role of observation and experience in the formation of ideas.
What is the empirical method?
Process of collecting data from direct experience, including self-report and case studies.
The empirical method involves actual testing of theories through observation.
What does objectivity in research mean?
Data collected in a way that avoids bias and is not influenced by the researcher’s opinions or expectations.
Objectivity is crucial for producing valid and reliable scientific conclusions.
How can objectivity be improved in research?
Systematic data collection, double blind studies, and peer review.
These methods help identify and minimize bias in research.
What is replicability in scientific research?
Methods carefully recorded to produce standardized procedures that others can repeat.
High replicability increases the validity of original experiments.
What is falsifiability according to Popper?
The ability to collect evidence to prove a theory wrong is essential for it to be considered genuinely scientific.
Falsifiability emphasizes that scientific theories must be testable.
What is a paradigm shift?
A series of scientific revolutions that change the fundamental assumptions within a scientific field.
A paradigm shift often leads to a new perspective in understanding scientific phenomena.
What is a paradigm in science?
A set of shared assumptions within each scientific field.
Paradigms guide how scientists gather evidence and interpret data.
What is the first stage in scientific theory construction?
Observation
This involves observing the naturalistic, bounded world.
What follows after observation in the inductive process of theory construction?
Construct a testable hypothesis
What is the purpose of conducting an experiment in scientific research?
To gain experimental data and collect empirical data under controlled conditions
What must be done with the collected data to claim a causative relationship?
Use statistical tests to determine significance
What is proposed after analyzing the experimental results?
A theory that explains the results
What characterizes the top-down theory construction approach?
Researchers start with an established theory and develop hypotheses to test its assumptions
