Psychology 1000 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Practical Action, Modus Tollens, Falsifiability
7 Oct 2018
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Falsifiability
o Criterion for demarcation: science = theories. Theories = hypothesis. If
hypothesis is to be part of science, it must be falsifiable.
o DEFINITION: A hypothesis is falsifiable if there exists a logically possible
observation statement which, if established as true, would falsify the
hypothesis.
o Makes laws and theories informative. Good theories
High in content
High degree of falsifiability/improbability
• The more a theory states, the more likely to be falsified (large
informative content)
• PROBLEM: method leads to speculative theories, because they are
highly falsifiable. Not in line with caution of inductivist
iii. Clearly stated
iv. Precisely stated
v. High degree of corroboration
o Freud & Marx are not falsifiable, thus non-scientific. Too flexible, do not rule
out anything.
• E.g. Marx' false consciousness: Capitalist society oppresses proletariat
through material, ideological, institutional processes. Those processes
hide the true relations of forces between classes. Proletariat will have a
revolution because they discover this or they will not because the
processes are hidden. False consciousness does not help to explain
anything and is not testable.
• Falsifications
o Valid logical argument - Modus tollens (*if A, then B.*Not B. - Therefore not A):
true premises cannot lead to a false conclusion. If the conclusion is untrue, the
premise (theory) must be false.
o Basic falsificationism: Theory should be falsifiable but not yet falsified. Based
on hard facts, takes and absolute perspective. Once falsified a theory should
be rejected (refutation = rejection) (also: dogmatic, naive)
o Sophisticated falsificationism: compares theories. Focus on relative rather than
absolute degrees of falsifiability. The more falsifiable, the better. Allows for
modifications. Refutation ≠ rejection.
• Criteria for preference (from Popper: The problem of induction)
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Document Summary
Falsifiability: criterion for demarcation: science = theories. High degree of falsifiability/improbability: the more a theory states, the more likely to be falsified (large informative content, problem: method leads to speculative theories, because they are highly falsifiable. Precisely stated: high degree of corroboration, freud & marx are not falsifiable, thus non-scientific. Marx" false consciousness: capitalist society oppresses proletariat through material, ideological, institutional processes. Those processes hide the true relations of forces between classes. Proletariat will have a revolution because they discover this or they will not because the processes are hidden. False consciousness does not help to explain anything and is not testable: falsifications, valid logical argument - modus tollens (*if a, then b. Therefore not a): true premises cannot lead to a false conclusion. If the conclusion is untrue, the premise (theory) must be false: basic falsificationism: theory should be falsifiable but not yet falsified. Based on hard facts, takes and absolute perspective.
