FEATURES OF SCIENCE

• What is objectivity?


  Science is all about objective facts rather than subjective opinions. However, some topics in psychology can make this difficult. For example, emotions are subjective experiences.
• The research methods used are designed to minimise bias and produce objective data
• What is empiricism?


  The only way to learn about the world is via our senses - we cannot intuit/reason our way to understanding.
• We must design studies which measure changes that we can see/sense.
• What is an example of empiricism?

  cognitive behaviour because internal mental processes shouldn't be studied as they cannot be observed.
• What is replicability?


  Should be consistently true and the findings should be the same fro different researchers and using different methods.
• Replicability helps us to identify invalid findings. For example, human behaviour is complex- lots of variation so it's hard to control confounding variables.
• What is falsifiability?


  Popper argued that we must be able to identify a set of results that would cause us to reject the hypothesis.
• What is an example of falsifiability?

  Psychodynamic approach because results can be explained away through ego defence mechanisms such as denial.
• What is theory construction?

  A well tested and widely accepted explanation for a natural phenomena that is based on observations of the world around us.
• When multiple related hypotheses are supported by sufficient evidence - may form a theory.

  For example, the theory of evolution.
• What is a hypothesis?


  A specific measurable prediction about the outcome of a study. it should be falsifiable and subjected to rigorous testing.
• Following the test, we accept either the research hypothesis or the null hypothesis.
• What is a research hypothesis?

  Predicts a significant difference or correlation.
• What is a null hypothesis?

  Predicts no significant difference or correlation.
• We accept the null hypothesis unless there's significant evidence to support the research hypothesis.
• What are paradigms?

  A set of beliefs, assumptions and ideas that define a world wide view and guide research methods.
• What is a paradigm shift?

  When a paradigm must change in response to new evidence.
• What is an example of a paradigm shift?

  Shift from behaviourism to the cognitive revolution.