features of a science

Question 1

What is the acronym to remember the features of science?

Answer 1

The Random Features Of Psychology

Question 2

What is a paradigm?

Answer 2

a set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a scientific discipline

Question 3

According to Kuhn, how does progress within an established science occur?

Answer 3

a paradigm shift > where a scientific revolution occurs > handful of researchers begin to question the accepted paradigm and this critique begins to gather popularity and pace occurs , the unifying theory is now undermined by contradictory evidence

Question 4

What is a theory?

Answer 4

a set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain behaviour or particular events

Question 5

What is theory construction?

Answer 5

The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour by gathering evidence (empirical method) and then organising into a coherent theory

Question 6

What is an essential component of a theory?

Answer 6

that it can be scientifically tested

Question 7

How can a hypothesis be tested?

Answer 7

hypothesis testing > using objective and systematic methods to determine whether the theory can be supported or refuted (falsified) > findings

Question 8

What did Popper argue was the key criteria of a scientific theory?

Answer 8

falsifiability > the principle that a theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proven untrue (false)

Question 9

What is replicability and why is it important?

Answer 9

• replicability > the extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers e.g. different circumstances and contexts
  important > also check for validity, whether findings can be generalise, other researchers can verify their work, can strengthen a theory through repeated attempts

Question 10

What is meant by objectivity?

Answer 10

maintain objectivity > all sources of personal bias are minimised so this does not distort or influence the research process > use of lab experiments (most objective)

Question 11

What is the empirical method?

Answer 11

the empirical method > scientific approaches that are based on gathering evidence through direct observation & experience
e.g. empirical method & observational method

Question 12

What are the 5 features of science?

Answer 12

• theory construction & hypothesis testing
• replicability
• falsifiability
• objectivity & the empirical method
• paradigms & paradigm shifts