Table of Contents
Methods of Enquiry in Psychology: Goals
Description
- The description requires recording a particular behaviour and describing it accurately so as to attain a comprehensive understanding of the same
- For example, morning habits may have a diverse range of behaviours like reading positive literature, meditation, exercise, journaling etc.
Prediction
- It is the second goal of psychological enquiry
- Here we attempt to understand the relationship between the behaviour we are describing with the other types of behaviour.
Explanation
- It is the third goal of psychological enquiry
- It attempts to explain the causal factors of behaviour and attain an understanding of the conditions in which the behaviour occurs or not.
Control
- It is the fourth goal of psychological inquiry
- It focuses on three things
- Making a particular behaviour happen
- Reducing it
- Enhancing it
Application
- It is the fifth goal of psychological enquiry
- focuses on bringing out a positive change in people’s lives
Steps in Conducting a Scientific Research
Conceptualizing a problem
- It is the first step of conducting a scientific research
- The researcher selects a topic for study which is done on basis of either review of past research, observations, personal experience
Identification of problem
- It is the second step of scientific research
- Development of a tentative statement about the topic takes place which is termed a hypothesis
- For example, “ greater is the amount of time spent by children in playing violent video games, the greater is the degree of impatience and anger developed by them”
Collection of data
- This step focuses on developing a research design or blueprint of the entire study.
- Decisions are taken about the following
- Participants in the study
- Methods of study
- Tools to be used in research
- Procedure for data collection
Drawing conclusions
- The next step of scientific research is to analyse data through statistical procedures
- It can be achieved through measures of central tendency like mean, median, mode and graphical presentations like pie charts, bar diagram
Revising research conclusions
- The researcher revises the whole study and the hypothesis being taken is analysed thoroughly to see whether it stands true or not
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