features of science + reporting psychological investigation

• paradigms:

  • shared set of assumptions + methods - separates scientific + no scientific disciplines
  • social sciences lack universally accepted paradigm, distinct from natural sciences - number of principles at core
  • psych has many internal disagreements with too many conflicting approaches
• paradigm shifts:

  • progress with established science occurs when theres a scientific revolution
  • researchers question accepted paradigm shift, critique gathers popularity - shift occurs when theres too much contradictory research
• theory construction + hypothesis testing:

  • theory - set of general laws/principles - can explain behaviour/events
  • theory construction - gathering via observation, should be possible to make clear/precise predictions on basis of theory (hypothesis testing)
  • hypothesis tested using systematic/objective methods
• falsifiability:

  • find evidence that hypothesis is true + none that counters it, pseudosciences cant be falsified
  • theories that survive most attempts to falsify = strongest
  • this is why alternative hypothesis is accompanied by null
• replicability:

  • extent to which scientific procedures + findings can be replaced by others - important to determine validity/reliability of findings
  • repeat study in different contexts/circumstances - see extent to which findings can be generalised
  • vital that researchers report investigations with precision + rigor so others can seek to verify
• objectivity + empirical method:

  • cant let personal bias discolour data or influence behaviour - greatest levels of control are more objective e.g lab studies
  • empirical - based on gathering evidence through direct observation + experience
  • theory cant be scientific unless empirically tested + verified
• reporting psychological investigations:

  • abstract - sumarises all major elements
  • intro - literature review of investigation (aim + hypothesis)
  • method - design, sample, materials, procedure
  • results - descriptive stats
  • discussion - verbal summary of results
  • references - name, year, book, chapter, year