Features of science

Question 1

What is the acronym to remember the features of science?

Answer 1

• The Random Features Of Psychology

Question 2

What is a paradigm?

Answer 2

• a set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline

Question 3

According to Kuhn, how does progress within an established science occur?

Answer 3

• when there is a scientific revolution > handful of researchers begin to question the accepted paradigm and this critique begins to gather popularity and pace
• eventually a paradigm shift occurs where the unifying theory is now undermined by contradictory evidence

Question 4

What is a theory?

Answer 4

• a set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain behaviour or particular events

Question 5

What is theory construction?

Answer 5

• The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour by gathering evidence (empirical method) and then organising into a coherent theory

Question 6

What is an essential component of a theory?

Answer 6

• that it can be scientifically tested

Question 7

How can a hypothesis be tested?

Answer 7

• hypothesis testing > using objective and systematic methods to determine whether the theory can be supported or refuted (falsified)

Question 8

What did Popper argue was the key criteria of a scientific theory?

Answer 8

• falsifiability > the principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proven untrue (false)

Question 9

What is an important element of Poppers hypothetico-deductive method?

Answer 9

• replicability > the extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers e.g. different circumstances and contexts to also check for validity & whether findings can be generalised
• important for psychologist to report work with as much precision & rigour as possible so other researchers can verify their work

Question 10

What must scientific researchers strive to do?

Answer 10

• maintain objectivity > all sources of personal bias are minimised so this does not distort or influence the research process > use of lab experiments (most objective)

Question 11

What is objectivity the basis of?

Answer 11

• the empirical method > scientific approaches that are based on gathering evidence through direct observation & experience
  e.g. empirical method & observational method

Question 12

What are the 5 features of science?

Answer 12

• theory construction & hypothesis testing
• replicability
• falsifiability
• objectivity & the empirical method
• paradigms & paradigm shifts