Research Methods: Features of Science

Question 1

A subject is scientific if it follows …

Answer 1

the scientific process

Question 2

Name the 4 key features of a science
(each point has 2 words)

Answer 2

1)Theory construction and hypothesis testing
2)Objectivity and empirical method
3)Replicability and falsifiability
4)Paradigms and paradigm shifts

Question 3

What is a theory?

What 2 things may a theory be based on?

How are theories developed and modified?

Answer 3

an explanation for a phenomenon

observations about the world or empirical data derived from hypothesis testing

by hypothesis testing

Question 4

What is meant by empirical evidence?

What does objectivity mean in terms of research?

Answer 4

data gained from the real world by observation , experimentation and measurement

when events and findings are not influenced by the person conducting the research

Question 5

What is meant by the term replicability?

Answer 5

the ability to check and verify the results of a study by repeating the method of the study to see if similar results are found

Question 6

What are findings more likely to be if a study is repeated and similar findings are achieved?

Why is it important that results from studies are reliable?

Answer 6

reliable

because this increases our confidence in theory building

Question 7

Falsifiability: What did Karl Popper argue?

What did he conclude?
Therefore … what should scientists do?
How do they do this?

Answer 7

that it is not possible to prove a theory , it is only possible to disprove a theory

that no amount of evidence can prove a theory to be right , as it only takes one piece of evidence to prove a theory wrong

attempt to show that their theory is incorrect rather than correct
by testing their null hypothesis

Question 8

What is a paradigm?

Answer 8

a theory that is accepted by the majority of scientists in a field

Question 9

What are the 3 phases in science?

Describe each one

Answer 9

pre science-there is a variety of theories but there is not one generally accepted theory or paradigm

normal science-one main paradigm or theory remains dominant

revolutionary science-disconfirming evidence accumulates until a theory can no longer be maintained

Question 10

What is this known as when a theory can no longer be maintained and is overthrown?

Answer 10

a paradigm shift