psychology as a science

Question 1

what is psychology ?

Answer 1

scientific study of behaviours and mental processes

Question 2

4 attributes in sciences

Answer 2

1. empirical
2. objective
3. falsifiable
4. cumulative

Question 3

empirical

Answer 3

based on observation and the measurement of reality
- experimental and not theoretical

Question 4

scientific observation (empiricism) is —- and often uses tools

Answer 4

systematic

Question 5

objective

Answer 5

not influenced by people and their opinions (opposite of subjective)

Question 6

how does science stay objective?

Answer 6

1. public and collective nature
2. use of formal language
3. use of research paradigms

Question 7

public and collective nature

Answer 7

scientists have the right and duty to publish results of their research so they can be confirmed or disconfirmed by subsequent research

Question 8

use of formal language

Answer 8

for a scientist’s statements to be verifiable, it must be expressed formally, like maths
- makes results arbitrary

Question 9

set up research using a method, set of techniques and procedures suitable for the research question

Answer 9

use of research paradigms

Question 10

falsifiable

Answer 10

criterion of a dividing line between scientific theories and other theories (political, religious) is the possibility of being refutes

Question 11

Karl Popper defines a theory as “scientific” if it makes predictions that can be — ?

Answer 11

falsified

Question 12

in science theories are never —— but they are true when they can be ——, because data that falsifies them hasn’t been found yet

Answer 12

1.) incontrovertible 2.) falsifiable