Research Methods: Features of a Science

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

An explanation for describing a phenomenon or event, based on observations about the world.

Question 2

A theory is a way of explaining an event based on what?

Answer 2

observations about the world

Question 3

What does theory construction allow us to make and test?

Answer 3

Predictions/hypothesis

Question 4

Once we have tested our hypothesis. What can this do to the original theory?

Answer 4

Support or refine the theory

Question 5

What does falsifiable mean?

Answer 5

The ability to prove something wrong

Question 6

True or False?
Falsification is about proving something right.

Answer 6

False
It is about proving something wrong

Question 7

Falsification needs which type(s) of hypothesis.

Answer 7

An alternative and a null hypothesis

Question 8

What should all hypotheses be?

Answer 8

Testable and falsifiable

Question 9

This hypothesis predicts no difference or no correlation

Answer 9

Null hypothesis

Question 10

Empirical methods are ones that are not based on …

Answer 10

opinions

Question 11

Empirical methods are ones gained through …

Answer 11

direct observation and experiments.

Question 12

What is a paradigm?

Answer 12

Where scientific disciplines have a shared set of assumptions and methods.

Question 13

Why might Psychology not be a science?

Answer 13

It lacks a universally accepted paradigm

Question 14

Name three different paradigms in Psychology

Answer 14

Behaviourism, cognitive approach, psychodynamic approach, biological approach

Question 15

Sometimes there is a revolutionary change in the assumptions used in science from an old one to a new one. What is this called?

Answer 15

A paradigm shift

Question 16

Scientific disciplines have a shared set if assumptions and methods. What is this called?

Answer 16

A paradigm

Question 17

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 17

Where there is a revolutionary change in scientific assumptions where an old paradigm is replaced with a new one.

Question 18

What is replicability?

Answer 18

Repeat the research using the same methods/procedure to check for similar findings.

Question 19

Replicating a study can check if findings have which type of validity?

Answer 19

External Validity

Question 20

Replicating a study can test a theory to see if we can …

Answer 20

generalise it to the wider population.

Question 21

The more we repeat our study the more …… we can become in our results.

Answer 21

confident

Question 22

What does our procedure need to be to enable replicability?

Answer 22

Operationalised and detailed

Question 23

What does operationalised mean?

Answer 23

Being specific and precise

Question 24

If a researcher uses factual measures rather then subjective measures is called …

Answer 24

Objectivity

Question 25

Research is not affected by the expectations of the researcher.

Answer 25

Objectivity

Question 26

Researcher bias could reduce …

Answer 26

Objectivity

Question 27

Brain scans are an example of what type of measures?

Answer 27

Factual/objctive/empirical

Question 28

Researchers used a questionnaire in their research. Which features of science could we criticise this with?

Answer 28

Not an empirical method

Lacks objectivity

Question 29

If we use objective research to study psychology. What can this be criticised for?

Answer 29

Reductionist viewpoint

Question 30

If we simplify human behaviour down to simple basic units what might this ignore?

Answer 30

Holisitic approach

Question 31

Reductionism neglects…

Answer 31

an holistic approach.

Question 32

A holistic approach takes into account ….

Answer 32

culture and socio-economic background.

Question 33

One strength of replicating research is that it can lead to …

Answer 33

practical applications

Question 34

A psychologist argued much of our behaviour is due to unconscious motives. What feature of science could we criticise this for?

Answer 34

Falsification

Question 35

Bandura observed that when children saw an adult be aggressive to a bobo doll they imitated it. Which feature of science does this link to?

Answer 35

Empirical Methods