Evidence in Science and Legal System Quiz

Converging Evidence

• The legal system and science both make decisions based on evidence
• In the legal system, a small amount of evidence leads to suspicion, while a large amount of evidence is needed to convict
• "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" - emphasizes the importance of considering all available evidence

Steps of the Research Process

• Develop a research question
• Conduct a literature review
• Generate a research hypothesis
• Choose a research design
• Evaluate the ethics of the research
• Collect and analyze data; form conclusions
• Report research results

Science in Context

• High standards for integrity and ethical conduct are essential in science
• Scientists must not fabricate data, plagiarize, or selectively report research findings
• Moral context is crucial in scientific research

The Scientist-Practitioner Model

• Integration of scientific knowledge and application
• Emphasis on the successful integration of science and practice
• Three roles of practicing psychologists: Researcher, Consumer, and Empirical Evaluator

Assumptions of the Scientist-Practitioner Model

• Professionals with knowledge and skills related to research will facilitate effective psychological services
• Research is imperative to the development of a scientific database
• Researchers' direct involvement in clinical practice will result in studies on important social issues

Critiques to the Scientist-Practitioner Model

• Some research findings may not be applicable to practice
• Trained specialists may decrease research efforts after graduation
• The scientist-practitioner model is still the best approach to becoming effective professionals

Scientific Reasoning

• Empirical approach: identifying a problem, gathering information, formulating explanations, conducting tests, and deriving a conclusion
• Karl Popper's concept of falsifiability: "Falsify-ability" or fallibilism - embracing the possibility of error

The Way Forward: Open Science as a Solution

• Large-scale replications to counter the replication crisis
• Pre-registrations in journal articles
• Transparency and data monitoring
• Open-access journals

The Limits of Science

• Science is not omniscient or infallible
• It is conducted by human beings, who are prone to making mistakes or misinterpreting information
• Science is still the best method for understanding the universe, particularly given the error-correction mechanisms integral to it

Pseudoscience

• Presented as scientific but lacking empirical evidence
• Often relying on unfounded theories or supernatural explanations
• Two features: easy to find evidence for claims and claims that cannot be falsified

Research Ethics

• Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) oversee human research
• Criteria for IRB approval: minimizing risk, justifying potential benefits, fair selection of participants, informed consent, and data monitoring
• Deception and debriefing: justifying deception, thoroughly explaining the nature of the study, and considering the rights of participants

Bad Science and Fraud

• Bad science: lacks proper methodology, relies on anecdotal evidence, and often fails to produce reliable and reproducible results
• Fraud: fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism
• Questionable research practices: cherry-picking, selective reporting, p-hacking, and HARKing

Test your knowledge on the similarities and differences between evidence in science and the legal system, as well as the steps of the research process. Learn about the probalistic nature of claims, the importance of evidence in decision-making, and the research process from developing a question to generating a hypothesis.