FEATURES OF A SCIENCE

• PARADIGMS & PARADIGM SHIFTS: 

  • Paradigm- shared set of assumptions / methods
  • Distinguishes scientific disciplines / non-scientific disciplines 
  • Kuhn- argues psychology lacks a universally accepted paradigm- a “pre science” 
  • Paradigm shifts- occur when there is a scientific revolution (paradigm questioned due to too much contradictory evidence)

  STRENGTHS: Cognitive psychology says that the mind and brain are separate, cognitive neuroscience says they are connected (SE)

  WEAKNESSES: (CE) Approaches- no agreed way of thinking
• THEORY CONSTRUCTION:

  • Theory- set of general laws or principles (can explain particular events / behaviours)
  • Starts with observation e.g. of behaviour
  • Construction of a testable hypothesis (observed behaviour tested under controlled conditions)
  • Propose theory- explains results (significant) 
  • This is called the INDUCTIVE / BOTTOM-UP method
• HYPOTHESIS TESTING:

  • Theories can be tested scientifically, suggesting a number of hypotheses
  • Hypothesis supported- theory STRENGTHENED (NOT PROVEN)
  • Hypothesis rejected- theory needs to be REVISED / REVISITED 
  • Deriving a NEW HYPOTHESIS from an EXISTING HYPOTHESIS - TOP-DOWN (deduction)
• FALSIFIABILITY: (POPPER- 1934)

  • Scientific theory- must be testable, able to be proven wrong, objective, observable 
  • WEAKNESS: Not all theories can be falsified e.g. Freud’s theories (no method of testing, cannot be proven / proven wrong)
• REPLICABILITY:

  • Can method / findings be repeated in the same way to compare results?
  • Reliability = consistency 
  • Some cannot be replicated - due to ethical reasons (e.g. Stanford Prison Experiment- extreme PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS)
• OBJECTIVITY:

  • Reduces bias / subjective ideas
  • Methods with most control- more objective 
• EMPIRICAL METHOD:

  • Data collected through direct observations / experiments 
  • Tangible evidence to support research
  • Examples: Experiments, observations