How science works (booklet 13)

• What are the 3 features of science?

  • Falsifiability: the ability to falsify or support hypotheses and test cause and effect
  • Objectivity: conclusions drawn should be factual and free from personal bias
  • Replicability: via standardised procedures (every participant treated the same) increased reliability and consistency
• What is science?

  science involves obtaining valid and reliable knowledge
• what is an alternative name for the scientific method?

  induction
• What is the inductive method?

  Starts with observations and hypothesis

  • Conduct a study to test hypothesis
  • Draw conclusions
  • Propose theory
• What is the deductive method?

  Starts with a theory and hypothesis

  • Observations
  • Conduct a study
  • Finally end with a conclusion
• Is correlation scientific or non-scientific and why?

  non-scientific as it doesn’t measure cause and effect
• causality: cause and effect
• What is peer review?

  • Carried out by experts in the related field of research, it takes place before a study is published to ensure it is high quality.
  • If experts didn’t review the research before publishing then It would damage the integrity of that field of research
• what are strengths of peer review?

  • promotes and maintains high standards in research which increases credibility and status of psychology
  • reduces subjectivity and bias from one person
  • rejects sub-standard and unscientific research from being conducted
• what are the limitations/weaknesses of peer review?

  
  

  • can be judged on the reputation of author or researcher rather than quality
  • no universal grading system as different journals have different standards
• What is the order for the sections of a report?

  abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references, appendices
• what does the abstract section Include in a report?

  a summary that includes the aim, method, results and conclusion
• what does the introduction section include in a report?

  places the study in the context of relevant theories and research leading to justification of what is being done and why
• what does the method section of a report Include?

  includes details of how the study was conducted e.g. design, sample, and sampling method, ethics, apparatus and materials
• what does the results section include in a report?

  descriptive and inferential statistics (no calculations included)

  significant statement not included
• what does the discussion section include in a report?

  Analysis and interpretation of results, comparison with existing journal articles, limitations, and implications. May also include failings of the study and suggestions for future study
• what does the references section include in a report?

  List of all other journal articles that have been referred to in the introduction and discussion
• What does the appendices section include in a report?

  Original materials e.g. stimuli, questionnaires and raw data tables or examples of results. Inferential statistics calculations, consent forms, etc
• What referencing system do we use when referencing books or journals?

  Harvard referencing system
• Harvard referencing system: books and journals

  • Authors names and initials
  • Year of publication
  • Title of book/article (in italics)
  • Name of publisher and the town in which publisher is located