4PAHPRM1 Research Methods 1 Research Principles
Psychology BSc Year 1
DEFINING KEY RESEARCH TERMS
TESTING THEORIES
Research
• A careful study of a subject, especially to discover new facts or information about it (Oxford
Dictionary)
• In psychology, research seeks to explore, explain, predict, and control phenomena related to human
behaviour and mental processes
Theory
• A concept or an interrelated set of ideas that are used to explain a body of data and to make
predictions about the results of future experiments (Stanovich, 2013; Kennedy-Higgins, 2024)
• Example: The theory of cognitive dissonance explains how conflicting attitudes and behaviours
cause discomfort, motivating individuals to resolve the inconsistency.
Research Question
• A question that a scientist wants to try to answer with their research
• A narrow question derived from a theory that should aim to question/challenge it
• Hypotheses will then be used to predict the answers to the research questions. (Stanovich, 2013;
Kennedy-Higgins, 2024)
• Example: “Does observing aggressive behaviour in peers increase aggression in children?”
Hypothesis
• Specific, testable predictions that are derived from theories (which are more general and
comprehensive) (Stanovich, 2013; Kennedy-Higgins, 2024)
• Example: “Children exposed to violent video games will show higher aggression levels than those
exposed to non-violent games.”
CORE RESEARCH PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS
Systematic Empiricism
• Emphasising the importance of gathering and analysing data through careful, structured
observation
• The idea that knowledge should be based on observable and measurable evidence obtained
through rigorous, well-designed methods
• Scientific observations are usually theory-driven (Stanovich, 2013)
Parsimony
• Favouring is the simplest explanation that adequately explains a phenomenon
• It avoids unnecessary complexity, making theories more practical and testable
Essentialism
• The idea that categories have fixed, innate essences defining their nature
• Essentialist explanations suggest that certain traits or characteristics are inherent, fixed, or
essential to a group or individual, overlooking social or situational factors, leading to
oversimplifications and stereotypes
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, 4PAHPRM1 Research Methods 1 Research Principles
Psychology BSc Year 1
Theory-Driven Research vs Direct Applications
• Theory-driven approaches are more focused on the long-term understanding and development of ideas,
offering explanations and predictions based on broad theories
• Direct applications are more immediate problem-solving strategies that prioritise real-world utility over
theoretical exploration
Theory-Driven
• Based on existing knowledge, hypotheses, or theories that have been tested in prior studies
• Used to explain phenomena, predict outcomes, or develop new ideas
• Focuses on understanding underlying principles and concepts that can be generalised across
different situations
Direct Applications
• Focuses on practical, real-world solutions
• Uses existing tools, technologies, or methods to solve immediate problems
• It may not always be based on rigorous theoretical foundations but emphasises effectiveness and
practicality
FALSIFICATION AND REPLICATION
Replication
• Enables other scientists to attempt the same experiment and try to obtain the same results
(Stanovich, 2013)
• Ensures that original findings are not due to biases or errors
Exact Replication
• Repeating a study with the same methods to verify the results
Conceptual Replication
• Testing the same hypothesis using different methods or contexts
Falsification
• A theory must be testable by empirical techniques
• Science deals only with “testable, or specifiable, problems” (Stanovich, 2013)
• If a theory does not rule out any possible observations, it can never be changed, and we are stuck in
our current way of thinking, with no possibility of progress (Stanovich, 2013)
Assessing the Explanatory Power of Different Theories
A good theory should be:
• Testable: Can be empirically examined
• Falsifiable: Can be proven wrong
• Parsimonious: Simple and concise
• Applicable: Relevant to a wide range of contexts
Applicability to Different Contexts
• Times: Valid across different historical periods
• Participants: Generalisable to diverse populations
• Tasks: Applicable to related but different tasks
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