Research Methods

Before you explore what psychology has discovered, you should understand how behavior is studied. Research psychologists are trained to be skeptical of claims or observations that are not grounded in evidence. Intuition and common sense should not be relied upon when conducting research. Instead, a critical attitude is essential. Researchers adopt an empirical approach, which means they form conclusions and beliefs gathered from experiments and observations. In this topic, you will explore the different methods used by researchers.

Essential Questions

• What are the techniques that psychologists use to observe, describe, or predict behavior, and what are the advantages of those techniques?
  
• How do psychologists use the experimental method to show cause-and-effect relationships in psychological research?
  
• What are the ethical guidelines for conducting research, and why are they important?