Nonexperimental methods and science

Question 1

What are other methods to conduct scientific research apart from conducting experiments

Answer 1

A self-report method which includes questionnaires and interviews, observation that is systematic.

Question 2

What are the key principles of science?

Answer 2

Science is 1. empirical, 2.objective, 3.controlled, 4.research can be replicated, 5.involves a theory or explanation being constructed (EOCRT) (CROTE)

Question 3

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 3

Thomas Kuhn proposed that scientific knowledge about the world develops through revolutions he suggested that scientific disciplines produce paradigms and over time the paradigms become challenged more and more until there is suddenly a paradigm shift

Question 4

What is a classic example of a paradigms shift involving our understanding of the universe

Answer 4

The astronomer Copernicus in the 18th-century challenge the belief held for almost 2000 years that the Earth was the centre of the universe

Question 5

What is empirical data?

Answer 5

Empirical data are facts

Question 6

? How is empirical data collected

Answer 6

Through direct observation or experiment rather than by reasoned arguments or beliefs

Question 7

Why is empirical data useful?

Answer 7

People can make claims about the truth of a theory or the benefits of the treatment that the only way we know such things true if empirical evidence

Question 8

Why must science and empirical data be objective?

Answer 8

Systematic collection of measurable data and not affected by the Expectations of the researcher is the only way of being sure that the data is valid

Question 9

Why is control necessary in an experiment?

Answer 9

Lack of control makes it difficult to interpret the results of the study because extraneous variables mean we cannot be certain that X caused y

Question 10

What is science?

Answer 10

Science is essentially a systematic approach to creating knowledge

Question 11

Why should science be systematic?

Answer 11

This means we can rely on it in order to predict and control the world

Question 12

What is the method used to gain scientific knowledge

Answer 12

The scientific method

Question 13

When is an experiment not an experiment?

Answer 13

When somebody is referring to an investigation that does not involve both independent and dependent variables

Question 14

The scientific method can be inductive - what is the inductive process?

Answer 14

Induction is a bottom-up process starting from the particular and ending with the general theory

Question 15

The scientific method can be deductive – what is the deductive process

Answer 15

Deduction is a top-down process starting from the general theory and generating particular hypotheses that can be tested

Question 16

What is common to both inductive and deductive processes?

Answer 16

In both cases the process involves repeating the processes over and over again to refine knowledge

Question 17

What are the key steps of an inductive study (there are five steps)

Answer 17

1 observations
2 testable hypothesis 
3. conduct a study to test the hypothesis 
4. draw conclusions 
5. proposed theory

Question 18

What are the key steps of a deductive study

Answer 18

1 observations
2. propose theory
3 testable hypothesis 
4. conduct a study to test the hypothesis 
5. draw conclusions

Question 19

During which step of an inductive study of the conclusions refined?

Answer 19

At the draw conclusions step

Question 20

During which stepfather a deductive study are the conclusions refined?

Answer 20

Whilst conducting a study to test the hypothesis

Question 21

Why is it important for scientific research to be replicated

Answer 21

Repeating a study is the most important way to demonstrate the validity of any observation or experiment and to affirm the truth of the original results

Question 22

Why do scientists standardise their methods carefully?

Answer 22

Though the same procedures can be followed in the future and replicated

Question 23

What is the forer effect?

Answer 23

Bertram fora in 1949 active students to fill in a personality questionnaire. They all said the evaluation that was fed back to them was extremely accurate. He then revealed that he had in fact given them all the same analysis from an astrology column