Features Of A Science

Question 1

What are the nine key features of a science?

Answer 1

• objectivity
• empiricism
• empirical methods
• theory
• hypothesis testing
• replicability
• falsifiability
• paradigms
• paradigm shifts

Question 2

What is a paradigm?

Answer 2

A set of shared assumptions and beliefs about a subject and its methods. It is a framework of ideas that helps guide research within a subject area.

Question 3

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 3

If a new scientist or theory comes along which upsets the current paradigm then the dominant assumption may change.

Question 4

What is replicability?

Answer 4

• If a theory is to be trusted then the finding must be replicable (repeatable).
• Scientists must ensure that when writing up a study they describe the methods in enough detail to allow others to repeat it.
• It can also be used to allow us to see how far we can generalise results if we repeat under various contexts/ circumstances.

Question 5

What is objectivity?

Answer 5

-All sources of bias are minimised and do not influence the research. Dara is fact based rather than opinion based. -Methods with the greatest level of control and that collect quantitative data tend to be the most objective.

Question 6

What is empiricism (empirical methods)

Answer 6

• Refer to gathering data through direct experience rather than argument or unfounded beliefs that cannot be measured.
• Empirical methods are normally controlled, standardised and collect quantitative data.

Question 7

What is falsifiability?

Answer 7

• Refers to the possibility that a theory can be shown to be false. A theory cannot be considered to be scientific unless there is the possibility of showing/ demonstrating that it is untrue.
• If a theory still stands despite attempts to falsify/ refute it then we can be confident in that the theory being correct.

Question 8

The ‘yes’ argument

Answer 8

• many findings in psychology are not what we would have predicted so it must be more than just common sense
• it has gone through paradigm shifts
• it can be objective and empirical
• it has theory and hypothesis testing
• many studies are replicable

Question 9

The ‘no’ argument

Answer 9

• some methods are subjective and non standardised
• most of our subject matter can be observed and must be based on inference and not objective measurement
• it is difficult to always create general laws as due to our subject matter some things are impossible to test.
• humans find it hard to be totally unbiased

Question 10

What is theory construction?

Answer 10

• we make observations
• we look at patterns and trends in data and draw conclusions
• we propose a theory
• the role of theory is to provide order to our observations, to give purpose and direction to research, and to be a source of testable hypotheses.

Question 11

What is hypothesis theory?

Answer 11

• a testable hypothesis is created using the theory
• study is conducted to test the hypothesis
• conclusions are drawn from the data
• this tells us whether the theory is supported or refuted
• therefore the role of hypothesis testing is to enable us to test our theory so that we can determine how confident we can be in that theory.