Scientific inquiry is a process of critical thinking and asking questions that helps determine factual information that has been tested and proved or disproved instead of relying on assumptions and intuition. Scientific inquiry is important in psychology, as it is in all fields of science, allowing us to examine assumptions, assess outcomes, discern hidden values, evaluate evidence, and put ideas to the test. This scientific approach guards us against hindsight bias, believing after learning an outcome that we would have foreseen it, known also as the knew-it-all-along phenomenon. It also protects us from judgmental overconfidence, the bias to seek information that confirms a judgment based on intuition. Hindsight bias and overconfidence often lead those to overestimate their intuition and common sense. Instead, scientific inquiry follows a scientific approach that is fed by a curious eagerness to skeptically scrutinize competing ideas and open-minded humility; utilized daily as critical thinking and allowing us to determine fact from fiction. With this scientific attitude we deploy the scientific method to create a theory. It begins with making observations. From these observations we form a theory, later refining the theory as new observations shed light on the subject matter. This scientific theory creates a hypothesis, the testable prediction. Psychologists use various methods of research such as the case study, the survey, naturalistic observation, correlation, and experimentation. In case studies, a psychologist will study one individual in depth. This process can show us what can happen and provide ideals which we can later infer to others. This individual though may be atypical and provide misrepresented data for the who... ... middle of paper ... ...This is due to how we process conscious and unconscious information. Conscious information is processed sequentially and slower than unconsciousness, meaning one event leads to the next and so on; as with multiple cars traveling down a one lane, one way road and stopping to pay a toll, only one car can process at a time. Unconsciousness moves faster because it processes information in parallel, simultaneously, meaning multiple events occur at once; as with a car travelling a parkway with multiple vehicles entering and exiting at multiple locations at the same time. Consciousness and unconsciousness are present in sensory processes such as hearing, seeing, reasoning, and remembering. While watching a woman jog by, you will consciously recognize that she is female, and simultaneously you will unconsciously process the fact that she is blonde and wearing black shorts.
The scientific method is how psychologists gain knowledge about the mind and behavior. It is used by all scientists. The experimental method is the one way to engage the scientific method, and the only way to find a cause and effect in relationships. It is summarized in five steps, observing some phenomenon in the world, forming a hypothesis which is an educated prediction about relationships between two or more variables, examining the gathered information by using empirical research, determining what the results are and drawing them, and evaluating the results whether it will support the hypothesis or not. Researchers, at the end, submit their work for publication for all to see and read (King, 2016). There are three types of psychological research in the scientific method, descriptive research, correlation, and experimental research (King, 2016). The article The Effects of Negative Body Talk in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of College Students (Katrevich, Register, & Aruguete, 2014) is an example of the experimental method.
...ehavior and social sciences of studying human and animals’ behavior, this type of research may be conducted by a combination of academic regulations for example; psychology, sociology, anthropology and others. However, when conducting psychology research, psychologists are obligated to protect client confidentiality and privacy, maintain professional’s standards and follow inform consent rules.
The process of scientific inquiry begins with the motivation to uncover the answer to a question. It then requires extensive research to gather all the information that could possibly be useful. Finally, one must put all the pieces of the puzzle together to make sense of all the information gathered and interpret it to answer the question. The last step is to write out what has been learned and publicize it to spread the new knowledge. There are many other factors, however, that also come into play in the process of scientific inquiry.
A case study is one method of non-experimental research. Case studies are very important in that it allows researchers the freedom to conduct safe and exclusive research to discover behaviors and situations that would normally be dangerous or impossible to study (Crawford, 2017, p. 78). Rayburn & Davidson (2001) discuss the advantages of using case studies in research and describe it as a “time-honored research method” (p. 269). Sigmund Freud is probably the most recognized researcher to use case studies in 1895, publishing (with Josef Breuer) Studies on Hysteria (Midgley, 2006, p. 124). The magnitude of Freud & Breuer’s case study was different from earlier case studies in that time; it was more intense, and the
For centuries, the value of horses was known to farming and working communities, but it was not until very recently in history that people began to see the value of a horse for the disabled and mentally handicapped. Hippotherapy, as defined by Barbara Smith, is “the use of the horse as a medical treatment strategy and not as a method to teach riding.” Dozens of studies show the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of this specialized therapy for certain disorders. The horse provides a stepping stone to well-being for people with debilitating illnesses that otherwise could not achieve optimal wellness through conventional therapies.
In the AOK of the natural sciences, having a skeptical approach can be quite beneficial. The natural sciences utilizes extensive methods in which they come to conclusions about the information presented, based on the various experiment...
The birth of psychology was in December of 1879, at Germanys University of Leipzig (Myers, 2014, p.2). In 1960, Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener defines psychology as “the science of mental health” (Myers, 2014, p.4). However, two provocative American psychologists, John Watson and B.F Skinner, redefined psychology in 1920. They redefined psychology as “the scientific study of observable behavior” (Myers, 2014, p.4). The problem arose when psychologists realized people could not observe feeling or thought so they needed to come up with a new definition for psychology. We define psychology today as “the science of behavior and mental processes” (Myers, 2014, p.4). Psychology includes many subfields such as human development, social behavior,
Recognizing that personal and cultural beliefs influence both our perceptions and our interpretations of natural phenomena, we aim through the use of standard procedures and criteria to minimize those influences when developing a theory. As a famous scientist once said, "Smart people (like smart lawyers) can come up with very good explanations for mistaken points of view." In summary, the scientific method attempts to minimize the influence of bias or prejudice in the experimenter when testing an hypothesis or a theory.
Research methods are therefore used to collect and analyse information. Psychologists have used these 5 research methods for collecting and analysing data at the BLOA.
The Scientific Method is the standardized procedure that scientists are supposed to follow when conducting experiments, in order to try to construct a reliable, consistent, and non-arbitrary representation of our surroundings. To follow the Scientific Method is to stick very tightly to a order of experimentation. First, the scientist must observe the phenomenon of interest. Next, the scientist must propose a hypothesis, or idea in which the experiments will be based around. Then, through repeated experimentation, the hypothesis can either be proven false or become a theory. If the hypothesis is proven to be false, the scientist must reformulate his or her ideas and come up with another hypothesis, and the experimentation begins again. This process is to be repeated until a theory is produced. The production of a theory is usually called the conclusion. After considerable testing of the theory, it may become what is known as a law, but laws are only formed in very rare occasions where the theory can be proven without a doubt, which is usually done through induction.
The scientific method is a process that outlines a number of principles for answering questions. Many people in day-to-day situations use the scientific method. For example, if I were to try to start my car and it doesn’t work, my first reaction would be to think of reason my car is not starting. This is just a brief example of scientific method. The principles in Scientific method should be used in an orderly manner to answer your questions. Scientific method lets people research true things as well as false. There is no guessing when using Scientific method it is completely natural. From my military career I can say from experience that Integrity is one of our Five Army Values. I like to think the Scientific method is having entire integrity, due to the fact that it is this method of discovery, and justification for that discovery, which must be accomplished entirely with integrity (www.scientificmethod.co.uk).
The book, Think: Why You Should Question Everything, written by Guy P. Harrison, discusses the importance of becoming a skeptic. Harrison defines skepticism as, “Science in action…the scientific process modified and personalized for everyone to use in everyday life.” (p. 26) He urges his readers that it is of great importance and in their best interest for people to think critically. Think educates individuals on how to navigate through the standard deceptive processes of the brain, which tend to interfere with how individuals perceive (see, hear, think, remember, and believe) their world around them. Questioning everything will help to promote a smarter and safer world. He views skepticism as a lifestyle that is, “Positive, constructive, and optimistic”, and is available to anyone to practice. Harrison advises that the scientific method is the only antidote to nonsense and misunderstanding, which helps repel bad ideas, and promote reality.
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior. In psychology, and all of the other sciences, relying on opinions is abandoned in order to find out which explanations best fit the evidence or data given. Science continually forces us to question our findings and conclusions. Over time, psychology has advanced greatly and a main reason for such progressiveness is because of the change in the research model used.
Cheerleading is a sport that involves short routines that combine dance, gymnastics, and stunting. “Cheerleading’s roots are closely tied to American football’s” (Varsity). The sport started out as a way to boost school spirit, which helped improve team performance. Over time cheerleading has become an All-Star sport of its own (EpicSports).
Case studies are a collection of data obtained using various methods gathered on an individual or group to record areas of interest in order to assist with analysis and provide recommendations. The study should include the name of the person, although this should be protected to provide anonymity where appropriate, and a brief description of the subject. The setting where the study is to be performed should be included. The aim of the observation must be presented along with a report of the findings. The type of method used will depend upon the subject and the area of interest. Data is gathered on the subject in this case observations were used to provide the data. An interpretation of the study will be made in order to provide a conclusion and recommendations made if applicable. Freud famously used the case studies that he carried out on his patients to develop his Psychoanalytic Theory.