Features of a science
- Created by: BethanyMerry01
- Created on: 05-10-18 11:29
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- Features of Science
- Science= systematic approach to creating knowledge
- Empirical Methods
- Empirical= method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing, not hearsay or rational argument
- Gain data through direct observation or experiment rather than being generated by reasoned argument or unfounded beleifs
- To be scientific we cannot create knowledge based on belief alone
- any theory will need to be empirically tested and verified in order to be considered scientific
- Adopting an empirical approach reduces the opportunity for researchers to make unfounded claims about phenomena based on subjective opinion
- Objectivity
- A key feature of science is the ability for researchers to remain objective
- Meaning they must not let their personal opinions, judgements or biases interfere with the data
- An important aspect of empirical data is that it remain objective
- Empirical Methods
- Empirical= method of gaining knowledge which relies on direct observation or testing, not hearsay or rational argument
- Gain data through direct observation or experiment rather than being generated by reasoned argument or unfounded beleifs
- To be scientific we cannot create knowledge based on belief alone
- any theory will need to be empirically tested and verified in order to be considered scientific
- Adopting an empirical approach reduces the opportunity for researchers to make unfounded claims about phenomena based on subjective opinion
- Empirical Methods
- research results should not be influenced by the person who carried it out, analysed the results or drew the conclusion
- systematic collection is at the heart of of the scientific method
- A high level of objectivity increases other peoples confidence in the results, as they are able to say that it would have made no difference who did the work.
- on the other hand, some methods are seen as less objective
- could be argued that psychology is not a science
- for example: observational and content analysis methods acn often fall victim to objectivity issues since the behavioual catagories are assigned at personal discretion of the investigator
- A key feature of science is the ability for researchers to remain objective
- Replication
- ability to conduct research again and achieve consistent results
- Important role in determining the validity of finding
- By repeating a study over a number of different contexts and circumstances then we can see the extent the findings can be generalised
- if scientific theory is to be trusted from the findings it must be shown t be repeatable across a number of different context and circumstance
- in order for replicability to become possible, it is vital that psychologists report their investigations with as much rigour and precision as possible
- this is so researchers can seek to verify their work and verify the findings that have been established
- if findings can be generalised (truly) then psychologists would expect and replication with standardised procedures would give similar findings
- It is important that we can replicate so we are able to assess whether or not results are reliable
- ability to conduct research again and achieve consistent results
- falsiifabiity
- Falsifiability = a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being untrue
- Popper referes to the idea that a research attempts to prove them as false
- this is the reason research has a null hypothesis
- genuine theories should hold themselves up for hypothesis testing
- popper drew a clear line between good science and pseudoscience
- the theories that survive to falsify them became the strongest because research has not proven them false
- Example: Lack of falsifiability in the Freudian approach
- popper argued that if falsifiability cannot be acheved then the theory cannot be based off a true science.
- theory construction
- Theory= set of general laws or principals that ahve the ability to explain particular events or behaviours
- Evidence to support the theory needs to be collected sing empirical methods so cannot be based on beleifs
- Scientists use both inductive and deductive methods
- The inductive model, scientists develop hypothesis. these are then tested empirically which may lead to new questions and new hypotheses
- The deductive model places theory construction at the forefront after making observations. Here the psychologist begin with a theory relating to a certain topic of interest, which is then broken down into more specific hypotheses
- Hypothesis testing
- Theories are modified through the process of hypothesis testing
- this is an essential characterisitc of science- where validity of a theory is tested.
- A good theory must be able to generalised testable expectations.
- if a scientists fails to find support for a hypothesis, then the theory requires modification
- An essential component of a theory is that it can be scientifically tested
- theories shjould suggests an number of possible hypotheses, which can be tested using systematic and objective methods to determine if it should be supported or refuted
- Theories are modified through the process of hypothesis testing
- paradigm
- Paradigm: A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline
- Paradigm shift: The results of a scientific revolution, a significant change in the dominant unifying theory
- Kuhn: paradigms seperated a scientific disicpline from a non scientific discipline
- He suggested that psychology was perhaps best seen as a prescience.
- He suggested that psychology had too much disagreement at its core between various approaches. therefore are unable to agree on one unifying approach.
- there have been numerous paradigm shits overtime
- Psycho-dynamic to behaviorist
- If a paradigm shift occurs, it is because of too much contradictory evidence which has been gathered from scientists trying to prove it false
- in order to be objective the ideal is carefully controlled conditions
- lab experiments are the most objective method within psychology because of the high level of control that is exerted over the variables
- Objectivity
- A key feature of science is the ability for researchers to remain objective
- Meaning they must not let their personal opinions, judgements or biases interfere with the data
- An important aspect of empirical data is that it remain objective
- research results should not be influenced by the person who carried it out, analysed the results or drew the conclusion
- systematic collection is at the heart of of the scientific method
- A high level of objectivity increases other peoples confidence in the results, as they are able to say that it would have made no difference who did the work.
- on the other hand, some methods are seen as less objective
- could be argued that psychology is not a science
- for example: observational and content analysis methods acn often fall victim to objectivity issues since the behavioual catagories are assigned at personal discretion of the investigator
- A key feature of science is the ability for researchers to remain objective
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