Psychology - Research Methods - Features of Science Flashcards
When is Psychology a science?
When the sample used is large and representative, key words are define and measured, confounding variable have been identified and controlled
Empirical methods
A method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing, we need to look for facts and scientific evidence that can be directly tested using empirical evidence
What is a Paradigm?
A shared set of assumptions and agreed methods that are found within scientific disciplines
What does Kuhn (1962) say about paradigms
What distinguishes scientific and non-scientific disciplines is the presence of paradigms
Why is psychology viewed as a pre-science?
Lacks universal acceptance of paradigms. There are too many internal disagreements and conflicting approaches.
What does Kuhn class a paradigm shift as?
The result of a scientific revolution. A significant change in the dominant unifying theory of a scientific discipline occurs and causes a paradigm shift.
Whats the first stage in Paradigm shifts?
One theory remains dominant and some researchers question the accepted one with contradictory research, counter evidence accumulates and the present paradigm is overthrown
What is the second stage of a Paradigm shift?
An established science makes rapid progress and a scientific revolution occurs due to the paradigm shift.
Objectivity
Dealing with facts in a way that is unaffected by beliefs opinions feelings or expectations.
What does a good researcher do in terms of objectivity?
Keeps a critical distance from the research. Don’t let personal biases interfere or accept research outcome.
Replicability
The extent to which the findings of research can be repeated in different contexts and circumstances
What does replicability refer to?
When the research is carried out again in the future and whether the findings can be repeated and whether similar findings can be found
What does replicability rely on?
The findings being consistent overtime and helping validate research findings because we can be certain that if the study were to be repeated the same findings would be gained
What does replicability serve the purpose of?
Stopping scientific fraud, checks confounding variables, shows reliability and validity.
Falsifiability defined by Popper (1934)
The notion that scientific theories can potentially be disproved by evidence, it is the hallmark of science and refers to proving a hypothesis wrong.
What did Popper (1969) state about genuine scientific theories?
Should be tested and proven false or incorrect
When are theories or ideas falsified?
when other research or theories have failed to support it or severely contradicted it and therefore we might assume that the research or idea is false or incorrect
How are theories constructed?
Via hypothesis testing and retesting, part of the scientific process. Theories are constructed based on the results of a range of work by many researchers and must be testable and falsifiable
What is deductive reasoning?
Having a theory and then devising a hypothesis, they then test empirical methods such as experiments/observations, conclusions are then drawn from the data
What did Popper (1935) devise?
The hypothetico-deductive model
hypothetico-deductive model
Suggests theories about the world should come first then a hypothesis should be generated and tested
What are the stages in deductive reasoning?
Propose a theory, Develop hypothesis, test hypothesis, draw conclusions
What is inductive reasoning?
Researcher observes instances of natural phenomenon or has observed behaviour that leads to a hypothesis then it is tested and conclusions are drawn and a theory is generated
What are the stages in inductive reasoning?
Observe facts in environment, develop hypothesis, test hypothesis, draw conclusions, devise theory.
