Features of Science (AO1)

Question 1

Paradigm

Answer 1

shared set of assumptions + methods (e.g. big-bang)

Question 2

Paradigm in Psychology

Answer 2

bc psych is multi-disciplinary, we have lots of different paradigms - all the different approaches (some argue psych is a ‘pre-science’ bc of this)

Question 3

Paradigm Shifts

Answer 3

paradigm shifts occur when researchers begin to question an existing paradigm + when enough contradictory evidence is gathered, a new paradigm is established

Question 4

Paradigm Shifts in Psychology

Answer 4

psych has has established paradigms, psychodynamic huge in the 1900’s but shifted to behaviourism in the 30’s/40’s + cognitive in the 60’s. now, majority use cognitive neuroscience

Question 5

Theory Construction

Answer 5

occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation (empirical method)

Question 6

Hypothesis Testing

Answer 6

refers to testing this theory using objective methods to determine whether the theory will be supported or refuted - if it’s refuted the theory will change

Question 7

What can Theory Construction + Hypothesis Testing be

Answer 7

inductive - where psychologists conduct research to create a theory

deductive - where psychologists start with a theory + create new hypothesis to test

Question 8

Falsifiability

Answer 8

refers to the idea that a research hypothesis could be proved wrong bc it can be observed, measured, tested

scientific research can never be truly ‘proven’ correct BUT should be subject to research attempts to prove them false

if not - considered a pseudoscience

Question 9

Replicability

Answer 9

refers to the ability to conduct research again + achieve consistent results (reliability)

if findings are valid, psychologists would expect any replication of a study using the same standardised procedures would produce similar results across different contexts

in order for this to be achieved, it’s vital that psychologists report their investigations with precision - so that others can replicate the methods + findings

Question 10

Objectivity

Answer 10

researchers must not let their personal opinions, judgements or biases interfere with the data they are collecting
lab experiment are objective bc they have high control over extraneous variables
observations + natural experiments can be more subjective bc it requires more interpretation from the researcher

Question 11

the Empirical Method

Answer 11

empiricism from ‘empeiria’ (greek for experience)
emphasis on data collected from direct experience
the experimental method is an example of how we can achieve this - the format you have been doing for years in science! (observation, question, hypothesis, experiment, analysis, conclusion)
a theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested + verified