Features of Science

Question 1

What did Thomas Kuhn suggest about sciences?

Answer 1

Thomas suggested that the difference between scientific disciplines and non - scientific disciplines could be distinguished by the shared set of assumptions and methods

Question 2

What is a paradigm?

Answer 2

A set of shared assumptions and agreed assumptions within a scientific discipline

Question 3

What is the key term used to describe these shared set of assumptions and methods?

Answer 3

Paradigms

Question 4

What did Thomas say about social sciences, like psychology? What did Thomas say social sciences are best seen as?

Answer 4

Thomas stated that social sciences (psychology) lack universally accepted paradigm and are best seen as a pre-science

Question 5

Thomas Kuhn theorised that there were three stages of science. What were these three stages and describe + explain them?

Answer 5

There were three stages of science:

1) Prescience = theories that attempt to explain a phenomenon but generally there is no formally accepted theory/paradigm

2) Normal science = a paradigm has emerged and is generally accepted/dominates the science. Over evidence appears that contradicts this dominant paradigm

3) Revolutionary science = evidence against an existing paradigm continues to grow, paradigm is questioned and division in opinion between scientists is formed. Alternative theories are put forward until eventually a new paradigm is accepted. This process is described as a paradigm shift

Question 6

What is the definition of the term “prescience”?

Answer 6

A prescience is a stage of science where there are a variety of theories that attempt to explain a phenomenon but generally there is no accepted theory/paradigm

Question 7

What is the definition of the term “normal science”?

Answer 7

A normal science is a type of science where a paradigm has emerged and is generally accepted and dominates the science. Over a period of time, however evidence can appear that contradicts this dominant paradigm

Question 8

What is the definition of the term “revolutionary science”?

Answer 8

A revolutionary science is a type of science where evidence against a pre existing paradigm continues to grow, paradigm is questioned and division between scientists is formed. Alternative theories are put forward, until eventually a new paradigm is accepted

Question 9

What is the outline of the process of a “paradigm shift”?

Answer 9

A paradigm shift occurs when evidence against a pre existing paradigm continues to grow, the paradigm is then questioned and division between scientists begins to form. Alternative theories are put forward, until eventually a new paradigm is accepted

Question 10

What is a theory?

Answer 10

A collection of principles that explain observations and facts

Question 11

There are two methods to testing theories. What are the names of the two methods for testing theories?

Answer 11

The inductive method and the deductive method

Question 12

What is the inductive method?

Answer 12

The inductive method is used when the researcher makes an observation/creates a hypothesis and then tests in a study/draws conclusions and proposes a theory based on the conclusions

Question 13

According to Karl Popper, what is theory construction based on?

Answer 13

According to Karl Popper. theory construction is based on the idea of falsifiability. A theory can only be scientific when researchers have attempted to prove that it is false. (By this, he means that researcher should attempt to falsify (go against) the null hypothesis)

Question 14

What is the deductive method?

Answer 14

The deductive method is used when the researcher makes an observation/proposes a theory/creates a hypothesis and tests in a study/draws conclusions and makes necessary adjustments to the theory

Question 15

What are the five key features of science?

Answer 15

1) Objectivity
2) Empirical method
3) Replicability
4) Control
5) Hypothesis testing

Question 16

What is the definition of “objectivity” as a feature of science?

Answer 16

Replicability refers to how the research should be able to be repeated; if the outcome is the same then it affirms the truth of the original results

Question 16

What is the definition of “objectivity” as a feature of science?

Answer 16

Objectivity refers to how the researcher must not allow their personal opinions or biases to affect the data they collect or influence the behaviour of the participants

Question 17

How can researchers make it more possible to test replicability?

Answer 17

In order to achieve such replication it is important for scientists to record their procedures carefully. This is so someone else can repeat them exactly and verify the original results. Unrepeatable results may imply flaws or a lack of control

Question 18

What are the implications of unrepeatable results, if found?

Answer 18

Unrepeatable results may imply flaws or a lack of control

Question 19

What is the definition of “control” as a feature of science?

Answer 19

Control refers to when research is carried out in controlled conditions; facts are acquired through controlled research

Question 20

What is the definition of “empirical method” as a feature of science?

Answer 20

When an empirical method is used, information is gained through direct observation or experimentation

Question 21

Why is the empirical method important to use?

Answer 21

The empirical method is important to use because it allows researchers to test the validity of a theory through direct testing

Question 22

What is the definition of “hypothesis testing” as a feature of science?

Answer 22

Hypothesis testing is for the research to be considered scientific, it must be able to generate testable expectations

Question 23

Some psychologists think behaviour should be studied using a scientific approach.
What are the two different approaches psychologists use?

Answer 23

The nomothetic approach and the idiographic approach

Question 24

What is the nomothetic approach?

Answer 24

The nomothetic approach involves scientists making more generalisations about people and looking to find similarities

Question 25

What is the idiographic approach?

Answer 25

The idiographic approach involves scientists studying people as individual cases, without comparing them to others and making generalisations about them