Theory Construction and Hypothesis Testing (features of science) Flashcards
What is a theory?
a collection of general principles that explain observations and facts
what may theory construction initially occur through?
empirical evidence via direct observations.
what should be possible once a theory has been constructed?
to make testable statements (hypotheses) based on the theory
what is an essential feature of science?
being able to improve a theory through hypotheses testing as part of the deductive reasoning process
What are theories constructed and developed through?
hypothesis testing
What is the process of hypothesis testing?
-Create hypothesis- Hypothesis are based on observations of the world.
-Test the hypothesis by conducting a study to collect empirical data.
3а) If the results of the study (empirical data) do support the hypothesis then this can lead to the development of the theory. The findings of carefully constructed research that support the alternative hypothesis allow us to begin to form a theory or modify an existing theory.
3b) If the results of the study (empirical data) do not support the alternative hypothesis it is refuted and the hypothesis must be modified and retested.
Through replication, why does a falsifiable theory undergo hypothesis testing by numerous studying by different researchers?
in order to obtain empirical data to objectively check if the findings are reliable
What is a theory an end result of?
range of research studies, it does not depend on one piece of research.
What is a crucial feature of science?
thas a theory is continually tested, it is improved and becomes more effective at explaining a phenomenon in the world
When may a theory become established as a scientific law?
If it can withstand repeated scrutiny of hypothesis testing- these laws remain until there is a padigram shift
