features of science

• features of science

  • Paradigms and paradigm shifts
  • Theory construction
  • Falsifiability
  • Replicability
  • Objectivity
  • Empirical method
• paradigms and paradigm shifts

  • Paradigm = a set of shared assumptions and methods
  • Kuhn = argued that a paradigm is what distinguishes scientific disciplines from non-scientific disciplines
  • He believed that social sciences (including psychology) lack a universally accepted paradigm and are best seen as ‘pre-science’, unlike natural sciences (eg biology)
  • Paradigm shifts = occurs when there is a scientific revolution - a group of researchers question the accepted paradigm when there is too much contradictory evidence to ignore
• theory construction

  • Theory = set of general laws or principles that have the ability to explain particular events or behaviours
  • Testing a theory = depends on being able to make clear and precise statements (hypotheses) on the basis of the theory
  • A hypothesis can be tested using scientific methods to determine whether it will be supported or refuted
  • deduction = the process of deriving a new hypothesis from an existing theory
• falsifiability

  • Popper = argued that the key criterion of a scientific theory is its falsifiability
  • Genuine scientific theories should hold themselves up for hypothesis testing and the possibility of being proved false
  • Popper distinguished between theories which can be tested and falsified
  • ‘Pseudosciences’ = theories that can not be falsified
• replicability

  • If a scientific theory is to be ’trusted’ = the findings from it must be shown to be repeatable across a number of different contexts
  • Popper said = by repeating a study, we can see the extent to which the findings can be generalised
• objectivity

  • To reduce bias in research (scientific researchers must keep a ‘critical distance‘ during research)
  • Usually, those methods in psychology that are associated with the greatest level of control (eg lab experiments) tend to be the most objective
• empirical method

  • Empirical methods = emphasise the importance of data collection based on direct, sensory experience
  • Examples of empirical methods in psychology = the experimental method and the observational method
  • Early empiricists (eg Locke) saw knowledge as determined only by experience and sense perception
  • A theory cannot claim to be scientific unless it has been empirically tested