The method in scientific psychology

A procedure method that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consists of systematic observation, measurement and experiment, and the formulation, test and modification of hypothesis. Currently, psychologists use the scientific method to conduct their research.

Like other social sciences, psychology requires a specific methodology to be able to regulate both studies and the production of knowledge of this. In the following Psychology-online article, we will present The method in scientific psychology. In addition, we will analyze the main methodologies.

1. Introduction to the method in scientific psychology
2. The experimental technique in psychological methodology
3. Correlational method
4. Observational method

Introduction to the method in scientific psychology

The cientific method It is a standardized way of making observations, collecting data, forming theories, trying predictions and interpreting results. Researchers make observations to describe and measure behavior.

The basic steps of the scientific method in psychology are:

• Make an observation that describes a problem,
• Create a hypothesis,
• Try the hypothesis, and
• Draw conclusions and refine the hypothesis.

Theory of scientific method

The common method to all science is the method hypothetical-deductive or scientific method. It consists of four moments:

• Observation Measurement of behavioral or cognitive facts.
• Hypothesis formulation: conjectures that the scientist formulates on the observed facts. The hypothesis has to allow the possibility of being falsified in experimentation.
• Deduction of conclusions: In experimentation, specific cases of the hypothesis are subjected to the test, never the hypothesis in general. You have to consider in terms of conditional (yes ... then).
• Contrast: It is to undergo experimentation the specific cases deducted from the hypothesis. It is now when the inductive technique is used. With the performance of the experiment the hypothesis can be verified, when the data supports or rejected, thus being falsified.

With the Verification of hypotheses, The scientific method seeks regularities for the formulation of laws and theories. The Methodic techniques. They refer to the different ways to carry out each of the moments of the hypothetical-deductive method.

In psychology, three methodical techniques in the contrast phase: experimental, correlational and observational.

The experimental technique in psychological methodology

It is a way to contrast hypotheses through experiments, Through which a situation is created, normally in the laboratory, in which it is intended to find out the effects of a variable (independent) on another variable (dependent) and thus be able to establish a relationship between them.

The main characteristic of this technique is that the researcher can manipulate and control the variable independent as it suits, to find out this relationship. For laboratory research, a previous design is required where they are described:

• The subjects that will be part of the experiment.
• the necessary devices.
• the procedure and the situation in which the experiment will be carried out.
• The mathematical analysis that will be carried out with the data obtained.

As a consequence of this whole process, it can be decided whether or not the starting hypothesis is met. The most elementary experiment in which the effect of an independent variable on the dependent variable is studied uses a type of design called bivariate (only the relationship between two variables is sought).

But you can also be interested in finding out the effect of several independent variables for which it is necessary to use multivariate designs. The main advantages of the experimental method are: the great manipulation capacity that is exerted on the situation.

For greater control of the effect of the independent variable, the Control Group. This group also submits to the experimental situation, except as far as the independent variable is concerned. This can be verified with great security that the changes in the experimental group are due only to the effect of treatment. Allows the repetition of the experiment at the time the experimenter estimates timely; This is called duplication.

When some changes are introduced in the repetition of the experiment, constructive repetition is called. The main criticisms of the experimental method come from the behavioral environment:

• The situations created in the laboratory are excessively artificial.
• While this is true, in these situations you can study the functions and processes that determine behavior in their natural environment.
• not all the intervening variables are really controlled.
• The experimenter increases the ambiguity of the observable aspects of behavior. These criticisms have led to the use of the introspective report, although with some limitations, given their private character.

In relation to the Internal validity, o Existence of the relationship between the variables, two criticisms have been raised:

• The experimental effect: certain characteristics of the experimenter can influence the results. This is corrected using several experimenters.
• The characteristics of demand: The subject usually answers according to what he believes is expected of him.

Refering to external validity, o Possibility of generalization of the results, it has been solved by reduplication of the experiment.

Correlational method

Another technique in the scientific methodology of psychology is known as correlational method: Since it is not always possible to carry out an experiment to contrast a hypothesis, when psychological variables are studied, such as hypothetical constructs (eg. Intelligence), which cannot be manipulated by the experimenter, but are given between the subjects of a population, the comparative or correlational technique is used.

This technique is based on the correlation coefficient, which comes to determine the relationship between two variables but not its cause. Its use is descriptive, not explanatory and serves to establish comparisons. It is mainly used in personality psychology through the mathematical technique of factor analysis.

Observational method

With this method in Applied Psychology, phenomena are studied as they happen in nature. Psychological observation uses a series of hypothesis already raised and its main objective is to directly check the phenomena. This technique is necessary on many occasions to know the behavior of individuals to analyze.

It is mainly used in clinical psychology, when it comes to variables that can only be observed. There are two kinds of observation:

• Passive: It is the one carried out in the data collection phase of the hypothetical-deductive method.
• Active: It is carried out in a controlled way and is called systematic observation. It is used in contrast.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to The method in scientific psychology, We recommend that you enter our category of basic psychology.