7.3.1 Objectivity & The Empirical Method; Replicability and Falsifiability

What is Objectivity?

• Objectivity is a key feature of science: it means that a piece of research has not been affected by subjectivity i.e. personal feelings, researcher bias, value-laden judgements or opinions
• When conducting a study the researcher should ensure that their own opinions and attitudes do not intrude or interfere with the process

What is The Empirical Method?

• The empirical method involves using objective methods to collect data (quantitative only) in ways which are controlled by the researcher and which are replicable
• Empirical methods test hypotheses using methods gained from direct observation in a systematic way

The scientific method means that objectivity and replicability are key

Which methods are objective and empirical?

• Lab experiments are objective in that they are hypothetico-deductive, use controlled conditions, manipulate the independent variable and measure behaviour via a replicable procedure resulting in quantitative data that is easy to compare and analyse
• The observational method is to some extent objective and empirical as it is based on direct observation of behaviour as proposed by the Behaviourists

Which methods are not objective or empirical?

• Methods which are designed  the usingsubjective experience of individuals could not claim to be objective or empirical e.g. interviews, case studies
• Methods which generate qualitative data are not easily replicable e.g. a case study based on one individual is not replicable as the data generated from it will only apply to that individual

Effect of delay on the recency effect

Experiments on memory tend to be objective and empirical (Glanzer and Cunitz, 1966)

What is Replicability?

• Replicability refers to a piece of research which could be carried out again by the same or another research and which would be likely to show consistent results which helps to increase the validity of the findings i.e. they show that the IV has affected the DV
• Replicability is only possible if the original research has been designed in way in which variables are controlled and there is great attention to detail in the design i.e. the procedure is unambiguous and precise

What is Falsifiability? 

• Falsifiability is the ability of a study or theory to be found to be wrong i.e. false which means that scientific methods can be used to test the theory/hypothesis to see if it is indeed wrong (which is why significance testing is based on either rejecting or accepting the null hypothesis)
• Some theories may not have been found to be false thus far but this does not mean that they are not false - the more these theories are tested and found to withstand the testing then the more scientific they are

Falsifiability: sounds negative but for researchers aiming to be scientific it is actually a good thing!

Which theories and methods are replicable and falsifiable?

• Lab experiments, questionnaires, large-scale surveys and controlled observations are replicable as they use a standardised procedure which can be replicated and repeated again and again
• Theories which have been tested repeatedly using controlled methods are falsifiable e.g. experiments on memory (e.g. Loftus and Palmer, 1974); localisation of brain function research which uses MRI scanning (e.g. Maguire, 2000)