FEATURES OF SCIENCE Flashcards
1
Q
fEATURES OF SCIENCE
A
- empirical methods
- objectivity
3.replicability - falisifiability
- paradigm and paradigm shift
- theory construction and hypothesis testing
2
Q
empirical methods
A
- information is gained through direct observation.
includes data collected from observations, but also from experiments, case studies and content analysis. - empirical testing as people can claim anything.
3
Q
objectivity
A
- the idea that the dependent variable is not affected or biased by researchers opinions or expectations.
- research affected by bias produce subjective conclusions
4
Q
how can we improve objectivity
A
- systematic data collecting = data is collected very care fully and made consistent for each participants - questionnaires or experimental procedures should be carefully designed and the observer can also use already established questions or tests
- by double blind study - researcher doesnt know the aim collects the data.
5
Q
replicability
A
- scientists need to carefully collect their data and use standarised procedures ao that other scienmtists can repeat their experiment and observations.
6
Q
falsifiability
A
- ability to prove a hypothesis wrong.
- popper example : no matter the number of white swans we see, we cannot claim that all swans are white.
- therefore research is started with a null hypothesis which can be rejected with reasonable certainty , never with absolute certainty.
- for a theory to be scientific, it needs to be constructed in a way it is empirically tested, it can be tested in a way which demonstrates its not true.
7
Q
paradigm
A
- scientists within a scientific field share a set of established assumptions which is what we call a paradigm.
- the movement to a new paradigm is called a paradigm shift
- example of solar system by copernicus
8
Q
A