Features Of Science Flashcards
What are the features of science
1 Objectivity and the empirical method
2 Falsifiability and replicability
3 Theory construction and hypothesis testing
4 Paradigms and paradigm shifts
What is an easy way to remember the features of science
Flying Harry POTER
Falsifiable
Hypothesis
Paradigms
Objectivity
Theory construction
Empiricism
Replicability
Explain why the theory must be falsifiable to be scientific
- Scientific theories must be derived in a way that could potentially be shown to be false
- Without falsifiability research couldn’t be shown to be true or false

What are paradigms and how do they relate to psychology
- paradigms are shared assumptions and methods within a particular discipline
- psychology is argued to have too many conflicting approaches to qualify as a science
What are paradigm shifts and how have they occurred through psychology
Paradigm shifts - when a field of study moves through a scientific revolution
Paradigm has changed from psychodynamic approach to behaviourism to the cognitive approach to now cognitive neuroscience
What is hypothesis testing and theory construction
- Hypothesis is a testable statement that is objective and measurable
- if a hypothesis is refuted or supported it will strengthen or weaken a theory
- theory is a set of principle used to explain behaviour
- theory construction is based on empirical evidence to support the theory
What is empiricism as a feature of science
- the belief that all data should be gathered through direct observation using objective measures to generate quantitative data
What are objective methods
- data should be collected and interpreted avoiding bias or opinion
What is replicability and Why is replicability a feature of science
- can the research be carried out again and produce consistent results
- this allows research to be reliable, we know the results aren’t due to chance
