Research as systematic inquiry

The Scientific Method as a Foundation

Research is defined as a systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge that was not previously possessed.

This research is the central ingredient of the scientific method in the field of psychology, and is what gives it its status as a science.

The scientific method is the approach that psychologists use to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior.

This method provides us with a rigorous framework for studying phenomena of interest in a way that is objective and also verifiable.

Through this approach, explanations of human behavior are sought to be based not on intuition, but on solid evidence.

The First Step: Identifying Questions of Interest

The first step of the scientific method consists of identifying questions of interest about some aspect of human behavior or mental processes.

These questions often arise from the observation of events in our environment or from our own personal experiences that generate a great deal of curiosity.

After repeatedly observing a phenomenon, the researcher moves on to formulate a theory to explain it in a comprehensive way.

Theories are general explanations and predictions about the phenomena of interest, although in psychology they are not as formal as in the physical sciences.

The Second Step: Formulating a Hypothesis

Once a theory has been formulated to explain a phenomenon, the next step is to design a hypothesis that can be tested.

A hypothesis is a prediction that has been stated in a way that allows it to be empirically tested through research.

This prediction is derived directly from the broader theory and serves to either confirm or refute the validity of that theory.

Formulating a hypothesis that is clear and testable is an ab