Scientific knowledge Flashcards
why should we care about myths in psychology?
can be harmful, cause indirect damage, impede critical thinking in other areas
what is the hypothetico-deductive model?
cycle from theory, to hypothesis, to observation, to interpretation and back to theory
what is the difference between induction and deduction?
if we start with a theory (deduction) or if we start with an observation (induction)
describe deduction
start with a theory, develop hypothesis, test out our hypotheses, and observe what’s going on.
what word can’t be used to describe a theory/hypothesis?
proven - we never say proven, only disproven or support for a theory
describe induction
We observe something and on the basis of the observation ask if there is a pattern, once we see a pattern, we have a tentative hypothesis. And then we develop some theory and we may well test out that theory by testing the hypothesis and then seeing if it works.
what characteristics do hypotheses have?
falsifiable, predictions, give direction to researchers to answer a research question, outline and anticipate a relationship between two or more variables, derived from theory, clearly stated and testable
what does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?
the hypothesis needs to be on that can be proven wrong or disconfirmed through observation or experimentation.
what happens if a hypothesis is not falsifiable?
if you can’t state a falsifiable hypothesis then you don’t have a true scientific theory
what are the characteristics of a falsifiable hypothesis?
has clear predictions you can test
what does it mean if a test result contradicts the prediction?
hypothesis is false
what does it mean for a hypothesis to be false?
test results contradict the prediction of the hypothesis - doesn’t mean the whole theory is wrong, but helps refine our understanding
what is a theory?
in scientific knowledge it is a set of concepts and propositions that are intended to describe and explain some aspect of experience
what do theories do?
It summarizes hypotheses that have been tested. And it tends to direct future research.
describe what a theory is
a substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world.
