Features Of Science/The Scientific Process

Question 1

What is science?

Answer 1

Systematic approach to creating knowledge

Question 2

What are me 2 major features of a science?

Answer 2

• Science aims to uncover “facts”
• in order to uncover “truths” about the world, scientists use scientific method

Question 3

What are the 7 key features of a scientific method?

Answer 3

• empirical method
• replicability
• objectivity
• theory construction
• falsifiability
• hypothesis testing
• paradigms and paradigm shift

Question 4

What is empirical method?

Answer 4

Info in form of data is gained through direct observation/testing rather man unfounded beliefs and assumptions

Question 5

What is replicability?

Answer 5

• Ability to check and verify scientific info by repeating assessment
• Failure to repeat suggests flaws in research/ lack of control

Question 6

what is objectivity?

Answer 6

• is opposite of subjective
  data that is objective is:
• unaffected by expectations of researcher
• free form bias
• systematically collected & carefully controlled conditions achieve this

Question 7

what is theory construction?

Answer 7

• aim of science is to construct theories to understand and predict phenomena
• construction can occur and beginning (deduction) or end (induction)

Question 8

what is the process for induction (theory construction)?

Answer 8

• observations
• formulate testable hypothesis
• conduct study to test hypothesis
• draw conclusions
• PROPOSE THEORY

Question 9

what is the process for deduction (theory construction)?

Answer 9

• observations
• PROPOSE THEORY
• formulate testable hypothesis
• conduct study to test hypothesis
• draw conclusions

Question 10

what is falsifiability?

Answer 10

• a theory has only been scientifically scrutinised when attempts have been made to prove it false
• assumption that no amount of evidence can completely prove a theory right but only one bit to prove it wrong

Question 11

what is hypothesis testing?

Answer 11

a good theory must be able to generate a testable hypothesis
- failure means theory is in need of modification

Question 12

what is a paradigm?

Answer 12

general theory/law accepted by majority of scientists in that field of study

Question 13

what is a paradigm shift?

Answer 13

over time evidence accumulates that suggests current paradigm is less adequate than it was so is replaced with new paradigm

Question 14

what makes a good theory (according to Popper)?

Answer 14

• can be empirically tested
• can produce a variety of hypotheses allowing for falsification
• argued that theories should come first to generate expectations (deduction)

Question 15

what does Kuhn argue about how science develops?

Answer 15

• 3 stages
• pre-science
• normal science
• revolutionary science

Question 16

what did Kuhn propose was involved in the pre-science stage?

Answer 16

• when a variety of theories attempt to explain one phenomenon
• there is no generally accepted theory/paradigm

Question 17

what did Kuhn propose was involved in the normal science stage?

Answer 17

when a generally accepted paradigm has emerged which dominated the science

Question 18

what did Kuhn propose was involved in the revolutionary science stage?

Answer 18

• an accumulation of evidence against existing paradigm
• alternative theories are proposed and eventually new paradigm is accepted (paradigm shift)

Question 19

why can psychology be accepted as a science?

Answer 19

• shares goals of all sciences
• uses scientific method
• most psychologists generate models which can be falsified and test with controlled experiments

Question 20

what can psychology NOT be accepted as a science?

Answer 20

• using scientific method ≠ science
• quantitative data and statistical analysis is not sufficient
• there is no single paradigm (Kuhn)
• lack of objectivity and control
• psychology takes nomothetic approach (looks to make generalisations)
• some psychologists use subjective, qualitative methods