Features of science Flashcards
What is science, objectivity and the empirical method?
Science is a systematic and controlled approach for gaining knowledge.
Psychology is the science of the mind and behavior.
Objectivity is when you deal with facts in a way unaffected by beliefs, opinions expectations etc. and it is the basis for the empirical method and is a key feature of science.
The empirical method is when you use objective quantitative data in a systematically controlled and replicable situation. An example of the empirical method is an experiment. It reduces the chances we make unfounded claims based on our opinions alone.
Replicability and science
Replicability is the extent to which they findings of research can be repeated in different contexts and circumstances. When we research is carried out again in the future and whether we find similar results if so the results are reliable and scientific. Replicability relies on the findings being consistent over time and so can help validate research findings.
It services the purpose of guarding against fraud, checking if the results where a fluke, seeing if results are reliable if they can be repeated and checking their validity.
Falsifiability and science
This is when scientific theories can be potentially disproved by evidence. ie proving a hypothesis wrong.
Scientific theories should be tested and should be able to be proved false, it is almost impossible to say something is definitely true but we can say they haven’t been proven wrong yet if falsifiable and so we should constantly test theories. “Good sciences” have theories that are constantly tested but are not proven incorrect as they are strong theories.
If falsification cannot be achieved then the theory is not truly scientific.
What is a theory and how are they made?
A theory is a collection of general principles then explains observations and facts, they are created by hypothesis testing and retesting. They are made from data conducted from hopefully multiple studies with many different researchers. Theories should be testable and falsifiable.
What is deductive reasoning?
This is when you have a theory then creating a hypothesis. You then test the theory with empirical methods such as experiments. You then draw conclusions from the data. There are 5 stages of deductive reasoning 1-create a theory 2-make a hypothesis 3-test the theory empirically 4-conclusions from the data 5-change theory if you need to
What is inductive reasoning
A researcher observers natural phenomena and comes up with a hypothesis. They then test the hypothesis empirically and draw conclusions. From these conclusions a theory is generated 1-observe natural phenomenon 2-create hypothesis 3-test empirically 4-draw conclusions 5-create theory
Hypothesis testing
Hypothesis testing is how theories are developed and modified, a good theory should have testable predictions (hypotheses). If the research do not support these it suggests that the theory needs to be changed or modified.
What is a paradigm?
A paradigm is a shared set of assumptions and agreed methods that are found within scientific disciplines.
Kuhn suggested that the presence of paradigms is what separates scientific and non scientific disciplines.
Social sciences like psychology lack universally accepted paradigms so can be seen as a pre science not a science.
Paradigm shift?
This is when as a result of a scientific revolution occurs, a significant change in the document unifying theory of a scientific discipline occurs and causes a paradigm shift.
There are two stages to a paradigm shift.
1)There is a dominant theory in the discipline but counter evidence will start to accumulate. Eventually the evidence can’t be ignored and the present paradigm will be overthrown in favour of the new one.
2) the science makes rapid progress and a scientific revolution occurs due to the paradigm shift.
