Theory Construction & Hypothesis Testing
What is Theory Construction?
- A theory is a set of principles that intend to explain certain behaviours or events
- A theory can be constructed using evidence gathered via research to support its central assumptions and principles as theories cannot exist on the basis of beliefs alone: they require empirical evidence
What is Hypothesis Testing?
- A hypothesis is a prediction of what the researcher expects to find after conducting an experiment: it must be objective and measurable
- When the findings have been analysed a clear decision can be made as to whether the null hypothesis can be accepted or rejected i.e. if the null hypothesis can be rejected then the theory is strengthened
A researcher may wish to test the hypothesis that A Level students will yawn at least five times during a lesson (but never during a Psychology lesson…)
Examples of theory construction and hypothesis testing
- The Multi-Store Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968) theorises that memory is a linear process with 3 unitary storage facilities; lab experiments such as Sperling (1960), Peterson & Peterson (1969) and Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) have been used in support of the theory
- The theory of localisation of brain function proposes that the brain is not unimodal and that specific brain regions govern specific functions and behaviours; research such as Maguire (2000), Dougherty et al. (2002) and Peterson et al. (1988) support the theory
Exam Tip
Just because a theory has been tested and supported by research does not mean that you can’t challenge it or find limitations to it in an exam. You will gain marks for robust critical thinking which goes beyond what a textbook outlines in its evaluation of a theory; the examiner will also love you for introducing some original ideas!
What is a paradigm?
- A paradigm is a set of shared assumptions and methods within a particular discipline which distinguishes a science from a non‐science (Kuhn 1962)
- Psychology is thus viewed as a pre‐science, (physics, biology and chemistry are science) as it has too much disparity between its various approaches (e.g. cognitive versus behaviourist)
What is paradigm shift?
- Paradigm shift occurs when a field of study moves forward through a scientific revolution e.g. with a few scientists challenging an existing, accepted paradigm
- As time passes these ideas gain traction as more scientists begin to challenge the old theory, adding more research to contradict the existing assumptions
The belief that earth is flat is an example of a pre-existing paradigm that went through a paradigm shift
Examples of paradigms and paradigm shift
- Psychoanalytic theory prevailed from the late nineteenth century and was at the forefront of psychological thinking until Pavlov and Skinner proposed the behaviourist idea that all behaviour is learned from the environment
- Another paradigm shift occurred when the cognitive approach took over from the behaviourist approach with the emphasis being on the mind and information processing (though both of these approaches can be seen in cognitive behavioural therapy)
