L6 - Features Of Science - Replicability & Falsifiability: Theory Construction + Hypothesis Testing

Question 1

Define Replicability

Answer 1

The extent to which the findings of research can be repeated in different contexts and circumstances

Question 2

What is Replicability?

Answer 2

• Research is carried out again and findings are repeated/similar findings are found
• Research is scientific and reliable
• Findings are consistent over time & validate research findings
• If sample sizes are small or we cannot repeat the findings, we should not use those results

Question 3

What does Replicability serve the purpose of?

Answer 3

• Guarding against scientific fraud
• Checking if results were a ‘fluke’ caused by CV/EV
• Can check if results are reliable (repeated) (L3)
• Can check if results are valid (L4)

Question 4

Where is Replicability greatest/lowest

Answer 4

Greatest: lab experiments
Lowest: observations - when IV is not manipulated properly

Question 5

Define falsifiability

Answer 5

The notion that scientific theories can potentially be disproved by evidence. It refers to proving a hypothesis wrong

Question 6

What did Popper suggest about falsifiability

Answer 6

• Scientific theories should be tested and can be proven to be false or incorrect
• Theories can be falsified when other research has failed to support it or have contradicted it, so we assume the idea is false
• Researchers will form theories that can be shown to be untrue via experimental testing
• Popper said if a theory had been successfully tested and repeated, it was not correct, just yet to proven false
• Good sciences are not usually proven to be incorrect as they are string
• Pseudoscience disciplines procduce theories that cannot be falsified easily.

Question 7

How do construct theories?

Answer 7

• Constructed via hypothesis testing + retesting
• Based on results of a range of work conducted by many researchers
• Theory just be testable and falsifiable (test and maybe reject it)

Question 8

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 8

• Having a theory
• Devise hypothesis
• Test theory using empirical methods
• Draw conclusions from data

Theory should come first, then hypo is developed and then tests are run to see if theory is correct

Question 9

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 9

• Research observes natural phenomenon
• Devise hypothesis
• Test hypothesis
• Draw conclusions
• Devise theory based of conclusions