Introduction Flashcards
Science
-Effort to build a system of knowledge about the world using scientific methods
Science
-Effort to build a system of knowledge about the world using scientific methods
Scientific method
-positivists use empiricism’s which is a statement that can be verified as true through observation, intervention and deduction which starts bread and becomes specific
Problem with verification
-cannot make general assumptions based on limited observation, as the next observation may refute our own
Scientific method
-positivists use empiricism’s which is a statement that can be verified as true through observation, intervention and deduction which starts bread and becomes specific
Problem with verification
-cannot make general assumptions based on limited observation, as the next observation may refute our own
Popper
-Suggested it is important to understand the world and governing laws, but predictions must be falsifiable (what needs to happen to falsify my theory)
Theory of scientific progress
-Prescience (no paradigm) - normal science (paradigm maintained despite falsification) - crisis (paradigm shift) - revolution - new normal science - new crisis etc.
Critical discussion
-Create theory through discussion with other scientists and criticize through falsification testing, then repeat
Kuhn
- Suggested that science moves through paradigm shifts
- Paradigms are extremely pervading theories or approaches that influence our view of the world
- Crisis causes paradigm shift when there is too much evidence against the them
Theory of scientific progress
-Prescience - normal science - crisis - revolution - new normal science - new crisis etc.
Prescience (no paradigm)
-Collection of facts and observations but no unifying theory or framework
Normal science (paradigm)
-Unifying framework is created which suggests what should be examined and how
Crisis (paradigm shift)
-Data seems to be going in a different direction, so paradigm is replaced
Science is superior
- Scientific knowledge is seen as infallible as it is based on observation and experiment unlike humanities which are based on opinion
- Therefore, scientific discoveries are seen as safe, trustworthy, rigorous and objective (often used in skin care advertisements for the lay population)
Truth
Scientific statements are true when they correspond to physical reality e.g. formula for ball rolling down a hill is the same as a ball rolling down a hill
Rationality
-truth is guaranteed because scientific statements are based on sound method
Objectivity
Knowledge of the physical reality and our knowledge of it does not depend on it being observed e.g. ball rolling down a hill, scientists woel
Psychology is not a science
- Stereotypes of science are very different to psychology
- Researchers findings are easy to understand so practitioners don’t feel like scientists (not all think scientific method is necessary)
Psychology is not a science
- Stereotypes of science are very different to psychology
- Researchers findings are easy to understand so practitioners don’t feel like scientists (not all think scientific method is necessary)
Social construction
- Gergen: all knowledge is historically and culturally specific
- must look at social, political and economical realms to understand present day psychology and social life
- Scientific knowledge is a social construction by the scientific community (affected by language and culture)
- Social constructionists question the special status of science (see scientific explanations as stories told by particular group of scientists
- Truth of statements depends on how coherent statements are with rest of paradigm
- Psychology is produced by, produces and is an instance of its own subject matter
Assumptions of social constructionism
- Critical stance toward taken for granted knowledge
- Historical and cultural specificity
- Knowledge is sustained by social processes
- Knowledge and social interactions go together
Critical stance toward taken for granted knowledge
- Our knowledge of the world does not come from random unbiased sampling
- The categories with which we understand the world do not necessarily correspond to real natural distinctions
Historical and cultural specificity
-theories and explanations are time and culture bound
Knowledge is sustained by social processes
- Our current way if understanding the world does not reflect the world as it really is (objective reality) constructed through everyday interactions
- Conceptual frameworks and categories are used
- Language is necessary for thought
Knowledge and social action go together
- Each social construction invites a different kind of action and tries to explain the interactions that occur between people
- Psychology looks for explanations of social phenomena in the individual e.g. attitudes, motives and cognition
