Features of science Flashcards
What should all sciences have?
A shared set of assumptions (paradigm), scientific methods and terminology
What is a paradigm?
A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within scientific discipline
What is a paradigm shift?
The result of a scientific revolution, a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline
How should sciences be in relation to hypothesis’
A science should provide precise (operationalised) hypotheses which can be tested in order to support or refute a theory
What is a theory?
A set of general laws or construction occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation
What is an essential component of a theory?
That it can be scientifically tested
What is the hypo-deductive method?
The process of deriving new hypotheses from an existing theory
What is falsifyability?
The principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue
Scientific theories must hold themselves up for the possibility of being proven false
What does hypothesis testing do?
It should be possible to make clear and precise predictions on the basis of a theory
What’s replicability?
The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers
What’s objectivity?
When all sources of personal bias are minimised so as not to distort or influence the research process
What’s an empirical method?
Scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience
What are the features of science?
A paradigm, paradigm shift, objectivity, empircal method, replicability and falsifyability
