features of science

• Key feature of science: researchers must remain objective and not let personal opinions, judgements, or biases interfere with the data
• Laboratory experiments in psychology are considered the most objective method due to the high level of control over variables
• Natural experiments lack control over independent variables and are viewed as less objective
• Observational and content analysis methods can have objectivity issues as behavioural categories are at the investigator's discretion
• Empirical methods involve gaining knowledge from direct experiences in an objective, systematic, and controlled manner to produce quantitative data
• Empirical approach reduces the opportunity for researchers to make unfounded claims based on subjective opinion
• Replicability in science refers to the ability to conduct research again and achieve consistent results
• For research to be scientific, it should be falsifiable, meaning that a research hypothesis could be proved wrong
• Falsifiability is essential in scientific research, as theories can only be subjected to attempts to prove them false
• Popper argued that theories that cannot be falsified should be considered pseudoscience
• Theory construction involves collecting evidence to support principles that explain behaviours or events
• Inductive process: researchers collect data to discover patterns or trends, leading to theory construction
• Deductive process: starts with a general theory narrowed down to a specific hypothesis for empirical testing
• Hypotheses must be objective and measurable to determine if results support or refute them
• Paradigm: a set of shared assumptions and methods within a discipline
• Kuhn suggested that psychology may be seen as a pre-science due to disagreements between approaches
• Scientific revolution involves questioning existing paradigms and can lead to paradigm shifts in a field of study
• Objectivity and empirical methods


  Important to remain objective and not let personal opinion and judegemnts iterefere with data
• Empircal methods suggest that knowleged is gained from direct experience and it should be collected in a systematic and controlled manner in order to produce quantitative data
• empircal method don't allow knowledge to be based soley on belief
• Replicability


  produce research again and find consistent results so findings can be generalised.
• why does all reseach have a null hypothesis?

  Scienctifc reseach must be subjected to reseach attempts prove them false, thereofre they must have a null hypothesis that suggests that nay difference or relationship that is found is due to chance
• what is a theory

  a set of pricniples to explain certain behaviours/events
• to construct a theory eviedence to support the theroy has to be collected
• Describe the inductive process.

  experiment, then find patterns, then contruct a theory
• The inductive process allows the research to make prediction whihc lead toa hypothesis.
• a hypothesis has to objective adn measureable. If reseach supports hypothesis then the theory is strengthened, if it refuted then the theory needs changing.
• What is the top-approach ot contructing a theory?

  1. narrow down theory to specfic hypothsis
  2. test empriacally
  3. then adjust
• what is a paradigm?

  a set of shared assumptions and methods in a discipline
• what is a paradigim shift ?

  when research question paradigm, then challenge it which reseach that contrqdicts exisiting assumptions
• what are the features of science

  1. Objectivty and Empircal methods
  2. replicability and fasilbifiablity
  3. theory constructions and hypthessi testing
  4. Paradigms and Paradign shifts