features of science

Question 1

Paradigms

Answer 1

Kuhn

suggested that what distinguishes scientific disciplines from non-spine fit i disciplines is a shared set of assumptions and methods - a paradigm

suggested that social sciences lack a universally accepted paradigm

seen as a pre-science as distinct from natural sciences

natural sciences are characterised by having a number of principles at their core such as the theory of evolution

psych on the other hand is marked by too much internal disagreement and has too many conflicting approaches to qualify as a science - pre-science

Question 2

paradigm shifts

Answer 2

kuhn

progress within an established science occurs when there is a scientific revolution

handful of researchers begin to question and accepted paradigm

this critique begins to gather popularity and pace and eventually a paradigm shift occurs when there is too much contradictory evidence to ignore

Question 3

theory construction

Answer 3

science tests theories

theory is a set of general laws or principle that have the ability to explain particular event or behaviours

theory construction occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation

Question 4

hypothesis testing

Answer 4

an essential component of a theory is that it can be scientifically tested

theories should suggest a number of possible hypothesis

a hypothesis like this can then be tested (hypothesis testing)

using systematic and objective methods to determine whether it will be supported or refused - in this case the theory will be strengthened or revised and revisited

Question 5

falsifiability

Answer 5

Popper

argued that the key criterion of a scientific theory is its falsifiability

genuine scientific theories should hold themselves up for hypothesis testing and the possibility of being proven false

he believed that even when a scientific principle has been successful and repeatedly tested it was not necessarily true

instead it just hasn’t been proven false yet

pause o-sciences which couldn’t be falsified

an alternative hypothesis must always be accompanied by a null hypothesis (allows for falsifying the hypothesis)

Question 6

replicability

Answer 6

popper

if a scientific theory is to be trusted the findings must be shown to be repeatable across a number of different contexts and circumstances

important in determining the validity of the finding

means the findings can be generalised

Question 7

objectivity

Answer 7

scientific researchers must strive to maintain objectivity as part of their investigations

they must nit allows their personal options or biases to discolour the data they collect or influence the behaviour of the participants they are studying

Question 8

empirical method

Answer 8

objectivity is the basis of the empirical method

experimental method and observational method are good examples of the empirical method

Locke - a theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested and verified