L6- Features of science- Replicability and Falsifiability Flashcards
What is replicability?
Extent to which findings of research can be repeated in different contexts and circumstances
Why is replicability important?
Helps validate research findings- can be certain that if study repeated- same findings gained- very important especially when sample sizes small
If we ✖️ repeat findings gained from research then we ✖️ be using these results to inform policy or theories in Psychology
State other reasons why replicability is important
Replicability also serves the purpose of:
1) Guarding against scientific 🧪 fraud
2) Researchers can check to see if results gained “one off fluke” (caused by extraneous/confounding variables) or genuine
3) If research findings can be repeated- findings are reliable
4) Replicability also indicates that research findings are valid
When does replicability tend to be the greatest and when is it the lowest?
Greatest when lab 🧪 experiment used
Lowest when experimenter failed to manipulate IV properly e.g. observations
What is falsifiability?
Scientific 🧪 theories can potentially be disproved by evidence- proving a hypothesis wrong
What did Popper (1969) say about falsifiability?
Popper (1969)- stated that genuine scientific 🧪 theories should be tested and can also be proven to be false (falsifiability)- occurs when other research (experimental testing) or theories have failed to support it or have contradicted it and … we might assume that research/idea incorrect
How are theories constructed?
Theories are constructed via hypothesis testing and re-testing- part of 🧪 process
Theories constructed based on results of range of work conducted by many different researchers (not just 1 piece)
What should scientific theory be?
Scientific theory must be testable and falsifiable (researchers must be able to test it and even reject theory because results have shown that it is false)
What is an example of a theory in Psychology which isn’t very scientific?
Freud’s theory- focuses on id, ego and superego which is unfalsifiable as theory cannot really be tested properly and is … regarded as non- scientific 🧪
Researchers ✖️ say Freud’s theory is false as ✖️ be tested properly in 1st place
What are the types of reasoning?
1) Deductive reasoning
2) Inductive reasoning
What is deductive reasoning?
Involves firstly having theory and then devising hypothesis. Researchers test theory using empirical methods e.g. experiments/observations and once theory tested, conclusions drawn from data
Which psychologist supported deductive reasoning?
Popper (1935)- devised Hypothetico-deductive model- suggesting that theories/laws about 🌎 should come 1st and then hypothesis generated and tested to see if theory/law correct
What are the stages in deductive reasoning?
1) Propose a theory
2) Develop a hypothesis
3) Test theory- e.g. using experiments/observations etc to see if theory correct
4) Draw conclusions- based on observations/research etc
What is inductive reasoning?
Researcher observes natural phenomenon or has observed 👀 🏃♂️ which-> researcher coming up with hypothesis
Hypothesis then tested and conclusions drawn from research
From conclusions- theory generated about topic/area being investigated
What are the stages in inductive reasoning?
1) Observe facts in environment
2) Develop hypothesis- from observations
3) Test hypothesis- conduct research
4) Draw conclusions from research
5) Devise theory based on concluded info
