L5 - Features Of Science - Emperical Methods, Paradigms & Paradigm Shifts & Objctivity

Question 1

Science - the key features

Answer 1

• science is a systematic & controlled approach to creating knowledge that we can rely on to predict & control the world e.g. find cures for schizophrenia
• scientific methods used in psychology include experiments, observations, case studies etc… that are systematically controlled & produce valid & reliable data

Question 2

Psychology is a science when

Answer 2

• sample is large & representative
• keywords are operationalised
• confounding variables have been identified & controlled for
• pilot studies are conducted
• high element of control

Question 3

Emperical methods defined

Answer 3

• a method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation/testing
• this can separate unfounded beliefs from the real truth
• we need to look for facts & scientific evidence that can be directly tested using empirical evidence

Question 4

Paradigm

Answer 4

• it’s a key feature of science
• it’s a shared set of assumptions & agreed methods that are found w/in scientific disciplines
• Kuhn (1962) suggested this is what distinguishes scientific & non-scientific disciplines
• social sciences e.g. psych lack universal acceptance of paradigms & is why it may be seen as ‘pre-science’
• natural sciences e.g. bio & chem have principles at the core e.g. evolution
• psych has too many internal disagreements & conflicting approaches to be a science - it’s a pre-science

Question 5

Paradigm shifts

Answer 5

• Kuhn stated it’s when ’the result of a scientific revolution occurs. A significant change in the dominant unifying theory of a scientific discipline occurs and causes a paradigm shift’

Question 6

How does a paradigm shift occur

Answer 6

In two stages:
1) one theory remains dominant w/in a scientific discipline, some researchers may question the accepted paradigm & may have contradictory evidence that disagrees with the main paradigm
Counter evidence may accumulate, critics may gain popularity & eventually the counter evidence is hard to ignore. Present paradigm may be overthrown due to emergence of a new one - paradigm shift
2) an established science makes rapid progress & a scientific revolution occurs due to the paradigm shift

Question 7

Examples of paradigm shifts

Answer 7

• shifting from psychodynamic approach (freud) to the biological/behaviourist approach
• also the work of Copernicus in the 16th century. The paradigm used to be that people thought the earth was centre of universe but he was responsible for a paradigm shift and found that the sun is the centre of the universe

Question 8

Objectivity

Answer 8

• another key feature of science
• can be defined as ‘dealing with facts in a way that’s unaffected by beliefs, opinions, feelings or expectations’
• good researchers are objective & keep a ‘critical distance’ from research they’re conducting, don’t let personal opinions & biases interfere or affect research outcomes
• means findings of research shouldn’t be influenced by the psychologist
• high level of objectivity increases other researchers confidence that the results are accurate & replicable
• objectivity is the basis of the empirical method, more likely to be achieved in lab experiments

Question 9

Ways to increase objectivity:

Answer 9

• standardised method
• operationalise variables