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Define what an empirical question is and explain why the scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to addressing only these types of questions.
Question: Define what an empirical question is and explain why the scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to addressing only these types of questions.
Sample answer: An empirical question is an inquiry that can be resolved by collecting and evaluating systematic, observable evidence. The scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to empirical questions because science relies entirely on tangible, observable data to verify claims. Consequently, questions that cannot be tested with observable evidence, such as those about values or how the world ought to be, fall outside the scope of scientific inquiry.
Key points:
- Definition of an empirical question as one resolved by collecting and evaluating systematic, observable evidence.
- The scientific method's reliance on tangible data.
- The resulting restriction of the scientific method's scope to objectively testable questions.
Rubric: To earn full credit, the response must: 1. Define an empirical question as one resolved by systematic, observable evidence (3 points). 2. Explain that the scientific method relies on tangible data (3 points). 3. Explicitly state that this reliance restricts the scope of science to objectively testable questions, excluding non-empirical questions (4 points).
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KPU
Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
Related
Falsifiability
Limitations of the Scientific Method
Non-Empirical Questions
Example of an Empirical Question
Conceptualizing Single Variable Research Questions
Evaluating Research Questions
Empirical Evidence
Which of the following best describes the defining characteristic of an empirical question?
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Define what an empirical question is and explain why the scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to addressing only these types of questions.
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