Psychology - Research Methods - Features of Science

Question 1

When is Psychology a science?

Answer 1

When the sample used is large and representative, key words are define and measured, confounding variable have been identified and controlled

Question 2

Empirical methods

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is a Paradigm?

Answer 3

A shared set of assumptions and agreed methods that are found within scientific disciplines

Question 4

What does Kuhn (1962) say about paradigms

Answer 4

What distinguishes scientific and non-scientific disciplines is the presence of paradigms

Question 5

Why is psychology viewed as a pre-science?

Answer 5

Lacks universal acceptance of paradigms. There are too many internal disagreements and conflicting approaches.

Question 6

What does Kuhn class a paradigm shift as?

Answer 6

The result of a scientific revolution. A significant change in the dominant unifying theory of a scientific discipline occurs and causes a paradigm shift.

Question 7

Whats the first stage in Paradigm shifts?

Answer 7

One theory remains dominant and some researchers question the accepted one with contradictory research, counter evidence accumulates and the present paradigm is overthrown

Question 8

What is the second stage of a Paradigm shift?

Answer 8

An established science makes rapid progress and a scientific revolution occurs due to the paradigm shift.

Question 9

Objectivity

Answer 9

Dealing with facts in a way that is unaffected by beliefs opinions feelings or expectations.

Question 10

What does a good researcher do in terms of objectivity?

Answer 10

Keeps a critical distance from the research. Don’t let personal biases interfere or accept research outcome.

Question 11

Replicability

Answer 11

The extent to which the findings of research can be repeated in different contexts and circumstances

Question 12

What does replicability refer to?

Answer 12

When the research is carried out again in the future and whether the findings can be repeated and whether similar findings can be found

Question 13

What does replicability rely on?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What does replicability serve the purpose of?

Answer 14

Stopping scientific fraud, checks confounding variables, shows reliability and validity.

Question 15

Falsifiability defined by Popper (1934)

Answer 15

The notion that scientific theories can potentially be disproved by evidence, it is the hallmark of science and refers to proving a hypothesis wrong.

Question 16

What did Popper (1969) state about genuine scientific theories?

Answer 16

Should be tested and proven false or incorrect

Question 17

When are theories or ideas falsified?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How are theories constructed?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 19

Having a theory and then devising a hypothesis, they then test empirical methods such as experiments/observations, conclusions are then drawn from the data

Question 20

What did Popper (1935) devise?

Answer 20

The hypothetico-deductive model

Question 21

hypothetico-deductive model

Answer 21

Suggests theories about the world should come first then a hypothesis should be generated and tested

Question 22

What are the stages in deductive reasoning?

Answer 22

Propose a theory, Develop hypothesis, test hypothesis, draw conclusions

Question 23

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What are the stages in inductive reasoning?

Answer 24

Observe facts in environment, develop hypothesis, test hypothesis, draw conclusions, devise theory.