CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH METHODS
The scientific approach operates on the belief that events follow a systematic and predictable order.
Similarly, psychologists, as scientists, assume that human behaviour is governed by specific laws and
principles.
UNIT 1: PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE
2.1.1 GOALS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE
Psychologists and other scientists share three sets of interrelated goals: measurement and description,
understanding and prediction, and application and control.
1.Measurement and description
Develop measurement techniques that make it possible to describe behaviour clearly and precisely.
2.Understanding and prediction
Scientists believe that they understand events when they can explain the reasons for the occurrence of
events.
Hypothesis: is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
Variables: is any measurable condition that is controlled or observed in a study.
3.Application and control
Theory: is a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations.
The enhanced understanding we gain from theories guides future research by generating new predictions
and suggesting new lines of inquiry.
A scientific theory must be testable. The foundation of science is its commitment to putting ideas to an
empirical test.
Empirical test: the process of evaluating a hypothesis or theory by gathering data through real world
observation and experimentation, relying on concrete evidence, rather than just theoretical reasoning.
2.1.2 A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Psychology is the study of behaviour and the factors that influence it.
Passer and Smith report four goals of psychologists as scientists:
1.To describe how people and animals behave.
2.To understand and explain the causes of these behaviours.
3.To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions.
4.To control behaviour through knowledge and control of its causes.
2.1.3 STEPS IN A SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Scientific investigations are systematic and logical. The steps follow from each other to produce a result
that can be tested and replicated through other scientific tests. This makes the results valid and reliable.
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, 1.Problem statement: without some sort of statement or problem a scientist cannot continue the study.
Participants (subjects): the persons (or animals) whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study.
2.Rationale: it is important to provide motivation on why the problem is worthy of investigation.
3.Scientific research question: specific and focuses on the purpose of the study.
4.Hypothesis: a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
Operational definition: a definition that describes the actions/operations that will be used to measure or
control a variable.
5.Research design: a plan in order to figure out how to put the hypothesis to an empirical test.
6.Data collection: gathering of information.
Data collection techniques: procedures for making empirical observations and measurements.
Population: refers to a big group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.
Sample: is a subgroup of people who are similar in terms of characteristics and relatively representative
of the population a researcher is interested in drawing a conclusion about.
7.Data analysis: analysing the data that has been collected.
8.Reporting of results: the publication of research results.
Journal: a periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of
inquiry.
The purpose of the peer - review process is to ensure journals publish reliable findings, based on high
quality research. The peer - review process is a major strength of the scientific approach because it
greatly reduces the likelihood of publishing erroneous findings.
Advantages of the scientific approach:
15
The scientific approach operates on the belief that events follow a systematic and predictable order.
Similarly, psychologists, as scientists, assume that human behaviour is governed by specific laws and
principles.
UNIT 1: PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE
2.1.1 GOALS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE
Psychologists and other scientists share three sets of interrelated goals: measurement and description,
understanding and prediction, and application and control.
1.Measurement and description
Develop measurement techniques that make it possible to describe behaviour clearly and precisely.
2.Understanding and prediction
Scientists believe that they understand events when they can explain the reasons for the occurrence of
events.
Hypothesis: is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
Variables: is any measurable condition that is controlled or observed in a study.
3.Application and control
Theory: is a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations.
The enhanced understanding we gain from theories guides future research by generating new predictions
and suggesting new lines of inquiry.
A scientific theory must be testable. The foundation of science is its commitment to putting ideas to an
empirical test.
Empirical test: the process of evaluating a hypothesis or theory by gathering data through real world
observation and experimentation, relying on concrete evidence, rather than just theoretical reasoning.
2.1.2 A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH
Psychology is the study of behaviour and the factors that influence it.
Passer and Smith report four goals of psychologists as scientists:
1.To describe how people and animals behave.
2.To understand and explain the causes of these behaviours.
3.To predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions.
4.To control behaviour through knowledge and control of its causes.
2.1.3 STEPS IN A SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Scientific investigations are systematic and logical. The steps follow from each other to produce a result
that can be tested and replicated through other scientific tests. This makes the results valid and reliable.
14
, 1.Problem statement: without some sort of statement or problem a scientist cannot continue the study.
Participants (subjects): the persons (or animals) whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study.
2.Rationale: it is important to provide motivation on why the problem is worthy of investigation.
3.Scientific research question: specific and focuses on the purpose of the study.
4.Hypothesis: a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
Operational definition: a definition that describes the actions/operations that will be used to measure or
control a variable.
5.Research design: a plan in order to figure out how to put the hypothesis to an empirical test.
6.Data collection: gathering of information.
Data collection techniques: procedures for making empirical observations and measurements.
Population: refers to a big group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.
Sample: is a subgroup of people who are similar in terms of characteristics and relatively representative
of the population a researcher is interested in drawing a conclusion about.
7.Data analysis: analysing the data that has been collected.
8.Reporting of results: the publication of research results.
Journal: a periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of
inquiry.
The purpose of the peer - review process is to ensure journals publish reliable findings, based on high
quality research. The peer - review process is a major strength of the scientific approach because it
greatly reduces the likelihood of publishing erroneous findings.
Advantages of the scientific approach:
15
