Euro-Western Worldviews

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to Euro-Western worldviews, focusing on philosophical beliefs, methodologies, and research practices.

Humanism

A philosophical belief that is secular and based on the conviction that humans are accountable to themselves and have the power to control their own decisions and actions.

Positivism

The view that there is a universal reality or truth that is objective, independent, concrete, and fixed, which can be observed, tested, and generalized.

Post-positivism

Recognizes that objective truths can never be certain due to researcher biases and suggests that something is 'probably true' as opposed to 'true'.

Modernism

A period rejecting religious beliefs, increasingly embracing humanism, and relying on the scientific method for knowledge acquisition.

Empiricism

A systematic process for observing and testing phenomena, also known as scientific inquiry or the scientific method.

Deduction

The process of starting with a theory or hypothesis and testing it to see if the data supports that theory.

Blind/masked

When subjects are not informed about the study's purpose or their condition to avoid bias.

Double blind/masked

When both the subject and researcher are unaware of the condition to maintain objectivity.

Deception

A strategy where the researcher misleads subjects about the study's purpose to avoid bias.

Psychometrics

The practice of developing standardized measures that are reliable and valid.

Rigour

Typically referred to as 'quality' within a (post)positivist worldview, involving objectivity and neutrality.