psychology.edited 1234.edited 23232.edited 1 .docx - 1...

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Scientific methodology
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Scientific methodology
Scientific methodology is a means through which knowledge is acquired by using a
procedure. It entails identifying and framing a problem. Data is then collected through various
ways such as observation, questionnaires, and experimentation then a hypothesis is tested.
Psychologists seek to understand people's ever behavior-changing depending on the individual’s
environment and situations. Psychologists use the scientific method to get a glimpse of the
various behaviors of the populace, their causes, and maintain them. The results are better in
academics, economy, religion, and harmonious society.
Psychologists are obliged to use scientific methodology to avoid bias. The final analysis of the
collected data has to be empirical and objective. Research has to meet a particular criterion to be
scientific. That is being cheap, precise, falsifiable, and replicable. Research qualifies to be
replicable only when other researchers carry out the same experiment and obtain the same
results. The results enable the researchers to develop a theory that explains the observations
( Borsboom et al., 2020) . A hypothesis is generated from the results. It aids in predicting the
outcome of research under controlled conditions.
A theory of research is termed falsifiable if it could be proven wrong. Falsification is vital
as researchers could lie under confirmation bias. Confirmation bias occurs when researchers
agree to particular results due to beliefs. This jeopardizes the accuracy of the results. Research
must be short and precise. The statement of a short hypothesis assists in replicating results by
other researchers. Psychologists use “operational definitions” to quantify a population or an
inconstant—for instance, the measure of comfort in a saloon car and a Mercedes bus. The
research must use simple language to avoid the generation of more hypotheses to explain the
same concept.

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Research methods
Researchers employ various methods to gather information. They are categorized into
experimental and non-experimental. The use of a questionnaire is a non-experimental method of
collecting data. It entails questions that are well organized, like in an interview. The questions are
purposely gathered data from the respondents. Questionnaires can be filled face to face, posted
on a website, or through the telephone.
Open and closed questions characterize questionnaires. The closed questions are provided
with multiple options whereby the respondent marks where appropriate. Open questions require
the respondent to reply with an answer not limited by the questionnaire. Questionnaires offer a
cheap way to gather enormous data. They are quick and can cover a wide geographical area
within a short time. Questionnaires, however, have disadvantages. The population could give
wrong information as per their desires. This could happen to protect their positive image as a
society, and the data may not be valid. It takes a long time to analyze large amounts of data
(Haig, 2019). Questionnaires are less suitable for an illiterate population. Longer questionnaires
are time-consuming to design and collect data.