Hypothesis
statement about something that may be true. A tentative idea about how two or more variables relate to each other that is waiting for evidence to support or refute it.
prediction
more general hypothesis into this.
falsifiability
data can show that a hypothesis is false, if in fact it is false.
source of ideas
common assumptions, observation of the world around us, practical problem, theories and past research
theory
consist of a system of logical ideas proposed to explain a particular phenomenon and its relationship to other phenomena.
theories
organise and explain a variety of specific facts or descriptions of behaviour.
theories
generate new knowledge by focusing our thinking so that we notice new aspects of behaviour. Guides our observations of the world. More general and abstract than hypotheses.
theory
grounded in and helps to explain actual data from prior research and specifies numerous hypotheses that are consistent with the theory.
parsimony
the least complex theory is most desirable, because it is easiest to entirely falsify.
Hypothesis
statement about something that may be true. A tentative idea about how two or more variables relate to each other that is waiting for evidence to support or refute it.
prediction
more general hypothesis into this.
falsifiability
data can show that a hypothesis is false, if in fact it is false.
source of ideas
common assumptions, observation of the world around us, practical problem, theories and past research
theory
consist of a system of logical ideas proposed to explain a particular phenomenon and its relationship to other phenomena.
theories
organise and explain a variety of specific facts or descriptions of behaviour.
theories
generate new knowledge by focusing our thinking so that we notice new aspects of behaviour. Guides our observations of the world. More general and abstract than hypotheses.
theory
grounded in and helps to explain actual data from prior research and specifies numerous hypotheses that are consistent with the theory.
parsimony
the least complex theory is most desirable, because it is easiest to entirely falsify.