Paradigm, science, falsifiability, decution

Question 1

What are the 5 key features of science?

Answer 1

• PET FG
• There must be a paradigm
• There must be theories from which hypotheses are derived and tested
• Concepts must be falsifiable
• There must be investigation using empirical methods which are replicable
• There must be general laws that govern human behaviour (generalisability)

Question 2

What is a paradigm?

Answer 2

An agreed central theory about a subject.

Question 3

What is pre-science?

Answer 3

No paradigm exists, and there is much debate about what the subject is and the best theoretical approach.

Question 4

What is normal science?

Answer 4

A generally accepted paradigm that can account for all the phenomena related to the subject, and can explain and interpret all findings.

Question 5

What is scientific revolution?

Answer 5

Evidence against the old paradigm reaches a certain point, and there is a paradigm shift. The old paradigm is replaced by a new one.

Question 6

What is deduction?

Answer 6

Deriving and testing new hypotheses from a theory.

Question 7

What is the process of deduction?

Answer 7

thoc

```
Theory
|
Hypothesis
|
Observation
empirical method
|
Confirmation (or not)
~~~

Question 8

What is falsifiability?

Answer 8

Can it be shown to be false?

Question 9

What is the importance of falsifiability?

Answer 9

Scientific theories must always be stated in such a way that the predictions derived from them could potentially be shown to be false.