Features of Science - Research Methods
- Created by: rosannaaa
- Created on: 28-04-18 11:06
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- Paradigm - set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline.
- Paradigm Shift - result of a scientific revolution: significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline.
- Kuhn suggested that social sciences lack a universally accepted paradigm and are best seen as distinct from natural sciences such as biology and physics.
- Paradigm shift occurs when there is too much contradictory evidence to ignore.
- Science tests theories - a theory is a set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain events or behaviours.
- Theory Construction
- Theory construction occurs through gathering evidence via direct observation.
- Theory Construction
- Hypothesis Testing
- Essential component of a theory is that it can be scientifically tested.
- Theories should suggest a number of possible hypotheses. Then be tested using systematic and objective methods.
- Deriving new hypotheses from existing theory - deduction.
- Be possible to make clear and precise predictions on the basis of the theory.
- Essential component of a theory is that it can be scientifically tested.
- Falsifiability
- The principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proven untrue.
- Popper argued the key criterion of a scientific theory is falsifiability.
- He believed when a scientific principle had been successfully and repeatedly tested, it was not necessarily true. Not yet proven false.
- If a theory is to be trusted, the findings must be shown to be repeatable across a number of different contexts and circumstance
- Replication used to assess validity of a finding, by repeating a study of number of contexts.
- Objectivity is when all sources of pesonal bias are minimised to not distort research. The basis of EM.
- Objectivity and Empirical Method
- Empirical Method - scientific approaches that are based on the gathering of evidence through direct observation and experience.
- Features of Science
- Replicability
- The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers.
- Replicability
- Objectivity and Empirical Method
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