Scientific method Flashcards
Science
set of methods used to collect information about phenomena to gain knowledge
Research
- identify the phenomenon
- develop hypothesis
- conduct the study and collect data
- analyze data
Empirical evidence
based on observation or experimentation
Basic research
acquire general information
Applied research
generate information that can be applied to real-world issues
Confirmation bias
the tendency to seek out confirming information
Non-scientific ways of explaining
- protoscience
- nonscience
- pseudoscience
- common-sense explanations
- belief-based explanations
Protoscience
at borders of current scientific understanding, not enough evidence
Nonscience
applies systematic techniques but no testing
Pseudoscience
ideas that are not scientific but presented as such
Science in comparison with pseudoscience
Science:
- published in peer-reviewed sources with a certain standard
- precisely described experiments that can be replicated
- failures accepted but studied for reasons
- further research
- convincing because of facts
Pseudoscience:
- to the general public, not peer-reviewed
- studies, if so, only vaguely defined
failures ignored
- no progress or further research
- convincing because of feelings and beliefs
Characteristics of scientific explanations
- empirical
- rational
- testable
- parsimonious
- general
- tentative
- evaluated
Methods of inquiry
- method of authority
- rational method
- scientific method
Scientific method
- observation
- formulation of explanation
- observing or experimenting
- refining and retesting
Research process
- research idea and hypothesis
- choosing design
- choosing subjects
- deciding on what to observe and appropriate measures
- conduct study
- analysis
- reporting
Deduction
general to specific
Induction
specific to general
Theory
well substantiated, consistent with established fatcs
Hypothesis
not well substantiated, has to be further tested
Heuristic value
gives ideas for more research
How to deal with ethical issues
informed consent, ethical review before conducting the study, anonymity, confidentiality, debriefing, dehoaxing
