Scientific Method
Psychologists accepted the empirical approach as the way to advance the understanding of human behavior, through observation, and experimenting. The empirical approach, according to Shaughnessy et al. (2006) is perhaps the most important characteristic of scientific method. To understand how researchers reach their conclusions, it is important for one to know more about the research processes and the steps used when conducting research. Knowing the steps of scientific method, one can understand the process researchers go through to arrive at conclusions, for example about human behavior.
The scientific method has four major steps, conceptualizing the problem, collection of data, analyzing the data and drawing conclusions.
Scientific method begins with the conceptualization of a problem that a researcher is curious about or identifying a problem and formulate hypothesis. Collecting data is next, the researcher selects a method to do their research that will enable them to collect data and test the hypothesis. Psychologist use three basic types of research methods, according to Shaughnessy et al. (2006) “They are descriptive (observational), correlational, and experimental” (p.22). During the data collection process, it is important to select the appropriate sample that represents the population interest. For example a researcher who wants to know if successful distant learners share similar characteristics, would not sample a population of students not enrolled in an online schooling environment. Based on the data that is collected the researcher then analyzes the data and develops conclusions from the findings that will confirm the hypothesis or not.
Qualitative and Quantitative Data
For the researcher data comes in many forms, from observations, computer program results, measurements, or experiences from prior studies. All of which are used to confirm a theory, test a hypothesis. This data may be numerical, descriptive, or visual. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “quantitative as relating to or expressible in terms of quantity or involving the measurement of quantity or amount” (“Quantitative,” 2012) and “Qualitative as relating to, or involving quality or kind” (“Qualitative,” 2012).
Based on the Merriam-Webster definitions, quantitative data is anything that can be expressed as a number, or quantified. Some examples of quantitative data are scores on a SAT test, the number of successful distance learner graduates, or the weight of a subject. Qualitative data on the other hand cannot be expressed as a number. Examples of this form of data are gender, social economic status and can also be used to describe things in terms of categorizations or qualities.
Scientific Theory Construction and Testing
An ideal, a hypothetical situation, speculation, and reasoning are words that can be used to describe theory, ideas about how things work, to think outside of the box. Scientists answer these questions that most of us just wonder about in their daily lives. Shaughnessy et al. (2006) stated, “Psychologists propose theories about the nature of behavior and mental processes, as well as about the reasons people and animals behave and think the way they do” (p. 50).
In scientific theory construction, there are two areas where theories differ, they can be developed on different levels and scopes. The first is that they can either be developed on a physiological or conceptual level. Physiological level would be based on biological causes such as genetics, whereas conceptual level is based on psychological causes such as stress. Second they can differ in their scope. These theories are either specific, like traumatic events in one’s life or broader, like aggression.
Theories also share similarities, such as organized process, variables (dependent, independent, and intervening), and the evaluating and testing of these theories. For example a scientist wants to know how stress affects heart rate in people. Stress would be the independent variable and the dependent variable would be the heart rate. A scientist could manipulate a person’s stress levels and measure how the stress levels change heart rate. Intervening variable according to Shaughnessy et al., (2006) allow researchers to identify relationships among dissimilar variables.
Testing of scientific theory, scientists begin by evaluating the theory on whether it is logical or not and if it withstands empirical tests. A good scientific theory is able to pass the most rigorous tests. According to Shadish, Cook, and Campbell (2002), “testing will be more informative when researchers do tests that seek to falsify a theory’s propositions than when they do tests that seek to confirm them” (as cited in Shaughnessy et al. 2006, p. 53).
Conclusion
In research methodology each component in the process is important, from the creation of the hypothesis, to the experimentation and data collection, and finally to the interpretation of the results. The information obtained from these experiments allows psychologists understand the symptoms of mental disorders and their effect on their patients. The information is valuable to understand how a people relate with one another if it is in the workplace, society and individual relationships (marriage and friendships), and team sports. Psychologists can develop effective treatments to improve the quality of life of individuals who have mental disorders.
References
Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasi-experimental
designs for generalized causal inference. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Shaughnessy, J. J., Zechmeister, E. B., & Zechmeister, J. S. (2009). Research methods in
psychology (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Qualtitative. (2012). In Merriam-Webster dictionary online. Retrieved from
Quantitative. (2012). In Merriam-Webster dictionary online. Retrieved from
University of California Museum of Paleontology. (2012). Understanding Science. Retrieved from
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