FEATURES OF SCIENCE

Question 1

fEATURES OF SCIENCE

Answer 1

1. empirical methods
2. objectivity
   3.replicability
3. falisifiability
4. paradigm and paradigm shift
5. theory construction and hypothesis testing

Question 2

empirical methods

Answer 2

• information is gained through direct observation.
  includes data collected from observations, but also from experiments, case studies and content analysis.
• empirical testing as people can claim anything.

Question 3

objectivity

Answer 3

• the idea that the dependent variable is not affected or biased by researchers opinions or expectations.
• research affected by bias produce subjective conclusions

Question 4

how can we improve objectivity

Answer 4

• systematic data collecting = data is collected very care fully and made consistent for each participants - questionnaires or experimental procedures should be carefully designed and the observer can also use already established questions or tests
• by double blind study - researcher doesnt know the aim collects the data.

Question 5

replicability

Answer 5

• scientists need to carefully collect their data and use standarised procedures ao that other scienmtists can repeat their experiment and observations.

Question 6

falsifiability

Answer 6

• ability to prove a hypothesis wrong.
• popper example : no matter the number of white swans we see, we cannot claim that all swans are white.
• therefore research is started with a null hypothesis which can be rejected with reasonable certainty , never with absolute certainty.
• for a theory to be scientific, it needs to be constructed in a way it is empirically tested, it can be tested in a way which demonstrates its not true.

Question 7

paradigm

Answer 7

• scientists within a scientific field share a set of established assumptions which is what we call a paradigm.
• the movement to a new paradigm is called a paradigm shift
• example of solar system by copernicus