scientific method

• empiricism - knowledge gained from sensory experiences.
• empiricists belive knowledge should come from observations and sensory experience .
• empiricism led to a more scientific approach for psychology with a basis of two assumptions:

  1. all behaviour is caused (determinism)
  2. if behaviour is determined, then it should be possible to predict how we will behave in different situations
• Objective investigative methods are methods that are unbiased and based on evidence and facts, rather than bias or prejudice
• Systematic investigative methods are a way to answer a question by collecting and analyzing data in a planned way. These methods can include: Surveys and questionnaires, Interviews and focus groups
• Replicable investigative methods are those that can produce consistent results across multiple studies that address the same scientific question.
• scientific cycle:

  1. Make an Observation (Theory Construction)
  2. Ask a Question
  3. Form a Hypothesis
  4. Run an Experiment (Gather Data)
  5. Analyze the Data and Draw Conclusions
  6. Share Your Results
  7. Repeat the Scientific Method (Iteration)