Features of Science

Question 1

What is a paradigm - and where does Psychology fall?

Answer 1

• (Kuhn) A shared set of assumptions
• Social sciences lack a universal paradigm and so are ‘pre-sciences’
• Natural sciences are characterised by having core principles, psych has too much internal contradiction

Question 2

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 2

• (Kuhn) progress in a science occurs in a scientific revolution (questions asked about core principles and eventually large amounts of contradictory research emerges) a paradigm shift occurs when there is too much contradictory evidence to ignore.

Question 3

What is a theory/theory construction?

Answer 3

• a theory is a set of general laws/principles that explain events/behaviours
• Theory construction occurs through gathering evidence through direct observation

Question 4

What is hypothesis testing?

Answer 4

• Theories suggest a number of hypothesis which can be tested using systematic/objective methods to determine whether it is supported or refuted, If Hypothesis is supported = strong theory
• The process of deriving new hypothesis from an existing theory is known as a deduction

Question 5

What is Falsifiability?

Answer 5

• Popper suggested true scientific theories should hold themselves up for hypothesis testing/possibility of being proven false
• ‘good science’ (theories can be falsified as are frequently challenged) and ‘pseudoscience’ which cannot be falsified
• Theories that survive most attempts to be falsified are the strongest

Question 6

How is Replicability used?

Answer 6

• Important element of Popper’s hypothetico-deductive method
• By repeating a study in different contexts, we see how findings can be generalised
• For replicability to be possible psychologists must report investigation in as much detail as possible

Question 7

How is objectivity used?

Answer 7

• Must strive to remain objective in their investigations (keep a ‘critical distance’) methods associated with control (lab experiments) are most objective

Question 8

What is the empirical method?

Answer 8

• emphasises the importance of data collection based on direct sensory experience
• good examples of the empirical method are the experimental and observational methods
• Locke saw knowledge as entirely determined by experience and sensory perception - a theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested