Research Methods Flashcards
what are the features of a science
-objectivity
-empirical method
-replicability
-falsifiability
-theory construction
-hypothesis testing
-paradigms
-paradigm shift
what are empirical methods
what are the benefits of adopting an emprical approach?
-idea that knowledge is gained from DIRECT experieinces in an objective,systematic, and controlled manner
-produces quantitative data
-theory must be empirically tested and verified
-reduces subjective opinion
objectivity as a feature of science
lab, natural, content analysis, observations
-not letting personal opinions, judgements or biases interfere
-lab is most objective, high levels of control
-natural can not exert control, less objective
-content analysis and observations have issues with objectivity as behavioural categories are decided at the discretion of the experimenter
replicability as a feature of science
-ability to repeat research and achieve consistent results
-using the same standardised procedure and produce similar findings
-findings can be truly valid and generalised
falsifiability as a feature of science
what it is
-idea that research hypothesis COULD be proved wrong
-scientific research can never be proven right only subjected to research attempts to prove it wrong
-null hypothesis suggest any difference/relationship is due to chance
-if falsification can not be acheived, therory can not be derived froma true scientific disciplin = ‘psuedoscience’
give an example of falsifiability within psychology
the psychodynamic approach casts doubt on the scientific rigour of psychology
-frued
theroy construction as a feature of science
-a theory is a set of principles that intent to explain certain behaviours/events
-evidence to support theory must be collected as empiraically it can not be based soley on belifes
what is the inductive process in theory contruction
-when a researcher suspects something to be true they must devise n eperiment to examine there ideas
-if they discover patterns/trends theory cn be constructed = inductive process
-‘bottom up’process
what is the deductive process in theory construction
-works from more general ideas to the more specific
-may begin with a theory relating to a topic of interest, which isthen narrowed down into a more specific hypothesis
hyptotheis testing as a feature of science
-it must be objective and measurable so clear conculsions can be drawn
-if findings support hypothesis, theory is strengthened
-if findings refute, theory will be altered accordingly
what is a paradigm
in relation to features of a science
-a set of shared assumptions and methods withtin a discipline
-Kuhn said this is what separates a scientific and non scientific discipline
-psychology could be best viewed as a pre-sceince as there is too much disagreement between various approaches
what is a paradigm shift and how does is happen
features of a science
-when a handfulof sceintists begin to challenege an existing paradigm
-over time the challenge becomes more popular with more research being added to support the contadiction
give an example of a paradigm shift within psychology
-from late 19th centuary psychoanalytic theory was at the forefront (role of the unconscious)
-from 1927 the work of pavlov and skinner emerged - behaviourist approach
-1960s another paradigm shift occured - the cognitive approach with the development of computers
what are the sections of a scientific report
6
-abstract
-intoduction
-method
-results
-discussion
-references
what format are psychological investigations reported in
why?
-American Psychological Association format is typically used
-some variations such as Harvard format
-easier to navigate when standardised, more user friendly
