Features of a science

Question 1

What’s a paradigm

Answer 1

A set of shared ideas and assumptions within a scientific discipline

Question 2

What’s a paradigm shift

Answer 2

A significant change in these central assumptions within a scientific discipline, resulting from a scientific revolution

Kuhn suggests that paradigms are what separate scientific disciplines from non-scientific disciplines and that paradigm shifts show progress within a science

Question 3

What’s a theory

Answer 3

Set of a general principles and laws which can be used to explain specific events or behaviours

Question 4

What’s falsifiability

Answer 4

Theory can’t be considered scientific unless it allows itself to be proven untrue

Question 5

What’s replicability

Answer 5

The extent to which scientific methods and their results can be repeated by other researchers across other contexts and circumstances

Question 6

What’s objectivity

Answer 6

When all possible biases from the researcher are minimised so that they don’t influence to distort the research process

Question 7

What’s the empirical method

Answer 7

Making direct observations and through direct experiences