What makes a subject scientific?

Question 1

What are the 8 key features of a scientific subject?

Answer 1

1. Use of a paradigm/paradigm shifts
2. Role of Theory
3. Falsification
4. Hypothesis Testing
5. Empirical Methods
6. Replication
7. Generalisation
8. Peer Review

Question 2

Describe the use of paradigms and paradigm shifts

Answer 2

theories must agree with and work with common paradigms

Question 3

What is a paradigm?

Answer 3

a set of universal laws and beliefs from which theories are constructed

Question 4

What is a paradigm shift?

Answer 4

when there’s too much contradictory evidence to ignore
- such evolution

Question 5

Describe the Role of Theories

Answer 5

a theory explains observable behaviours and events using a set of principles

• can be used to predict observations
• organises facts and patterns
• helps generate testable hypotheses

Question 6

Describe the role of Falsification

Answer 6

the possibility of being proven true/false
- scientific theories should be open to falsification

Question 7

Describe the role of Hypothesis Testing

Answer 7

one variable changed at a time
allows to refuse/support theories
done in a controlled and organised way

Question 8

Describe the role of Empirical Testing