Week5 Flashcards
What are the intended learning outcomes of this lecture?
To understand the scientific approach in psychology, questions psychologists ask, levels of analysis, and key concepts in philosophy of science; to appreciate quantitative and qualitative methods and critiques of scientific approaches.
How is “research” defined?
Research is the systematic investigation to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
What are some levels of analysis used by psychologists?
Cultural/historical, socio-political, sub-cultural, social cognition, cognitive processes, genetic/evolutionary, and neurological levels.
What are the three main components of the scientific approach?
Ontology (What is reality?), Epistemology (How do we know?), and Methodology (How do we investigate?).
What is positivism in psychological research?
Positivism emphasizes empirical data, scientific methods, and finding general rules from observations
How does empiricism approach knowledge?
Empiricism states that knowledge is acquired through sensory experiences, though observations are selective.
What is constructivism’s view on knowledge?
Constructivism holds that knowledge is constructed within the learner’s mind and shaped by historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts.
What is hypothetico-deductive research?
It involves testing hypotheses based on theory, refining theories through iterative interpretation of data
What are some critiques of hypothetico-deductive research?
It can ignore social and cultural factors, limit new theory generation, and often relies on established frameworks.
What does the feminist critique argue about traditional scientific research?
It claims traditional science has excluded women, reinforced biases, and relied on “objective” views that may ignore context (e.g., “The God Trick”).
What is the “God Trick” in scientific research?
It’s the attempt to conduct objective, detached research, which critics argue is unrealistic and ignores researcher influence.
What is a myth about scientific research?
One myth is that science is about collecting “facts,” while in reality, facts are often interpreted through theory.
What are the three major perspectives in psychological research?
Nomothetic (general laws), Idiographic (individual cases), and Hermeneutic (meaning in context).
How do quantitative and qualitative research differ?
Quantitative uses numbers and focuses on prediction, while qualitative uses descriptions and focuses on understanding experiences.
Name the three major research paradigms discussed in the lecture.
Positivism, empiricism, and constructivism.
