Page 3 Flashcards
What is epistemology?
The study of knowledge (methods, validity, scope, belief vs opinion)
What are the kinds of knowledge?
Personal experience Common sense Expert Opinion Popular message Idealogical belief Systematic Study and Research
Neuman (2011) - 4 methods of aquiring knowledge
- Personal experience and common sense
- Experts or authorities
- Peers and media
- Idealogical beliefs and values
Scientific approach characterised by:
- Clearly defined constructs and observed phenomena
- Theory driven questions and hypotheses
- Falsifiable hypotheses/prediciton
- Valid measurement of constructs and observed phenomena
- Reproducible design, measuer and results
- Peer review and consense
Non-scientific approach characterised by:
Overgeneralisation Selective observation Premature closeure Halo effect False consensus Pseudoscience Junk Science Pop science
What is science
Observation –> generate theory –> prediction
What is inductive reasoning?
Specific observations to make generalisations
What is the problem with induction (Carl Popper)
Turkey story, thinks farmer is friend until the day they are slaughtered for thanksgiving
What are theories
Sets of ideas based on prior observations that aims to explain and predict phenomena
*They are risky and testable (falsifiable)
Issue with pseudoscience
Does not update its theories (or hypothese) in the face of disconfirming observations (think astrology)
What is a hypothese
Plausable, testable claim that does not yet have enough evidence to conside its acceptance or rejection
What is social theory
A system of interconnect ideas that condense and organises the knowledge about the social world and explains how it works
What is data
Numerical (quantitative) and non-numerical (qualitative) information and evidence that have been carefully gather according to rules or established procedures
Empirical
Description of what we can observe and experience directly through human sense, or indirectly using techniques that extend the senses
What is pseudoscience
Ideas or information clothed in the jargon and outward appearance of sciecne that seeks to win acceptance but that was not created with the systematic rigoor or standards required of the scientific method
What is junk science
A public relations term used to critise scientific research even if it is conducted properly that produces findings that an advocacy group opposes
What is innumeracy
The lack of quantitative literacty, not having an ability to reason with numbers and other mathemmatical concepts
Scientific literacy
The capacity to unersand and apply sicentific knowledge, concepts, principles, and theories to solve problems and make decisions based on scientific reasoning and to interact in a way that reflects the core values of the scientific communitiy
What is scientific community
A collection of people who share a system of attitides, beliefs, and rules that sustains the production and advance of scientific knowledge
Norms of the scientific comminity
Informal rules, principles, and values that govern the way scientists conduct their research
What is universalism
Regardless of who conducts the research, it is to be judges only on the basis of scientific merit
Organised skepticism
Ideas or evidence should not be accepted in a carefree, uncritical manner. They should challenge and question all evidence with intense scutiny
Disinterestedness
Neutral, impartial, receptive and open to unexpected observations and new ideas
Communalism
Scientific knowledge must be shared wih others. Its a public act, and findings are public knowledge
