Psychology

Scientific method is traditionally defines as a system of organized and systematized body of knowledge. The scientific method involves techniques which aim to explain a hypothesis, principle or phenomena. Investigation is done through acquirement of new knowledge, and review of previous studies and related literature.

Scientific method becomes scientific when it is based on science. Therefore, it should, first of all, search for the truth. Science is based from facts and principles  based from truth. It should also discuss creative human activity. Some new and unexplained phenomena are brought by human activities which directly and indirectly affect their way of living.

Since scientific method in based from observation, it should be investigative, empirical and numerical. A researcher who uses the scientific method should follow systematic techniques in performing a scientific study. The researcher should continuously search for facts and evidences to support the principle or phenomenon that he tries to explain.

Every researcher opts to use the scientific method for one simple reason. Science coordinates all human experiences to come up with a logical explanation on a research study. Every science describes a class of phenomena in a systematic way. It then explains these phenomena through principles which were previously obtained from previous research studies. The researcher collects data to provide facts and evidences.

Through scientific method, he formulates laws, models and theories which are products of his constant search for the truth.

A research begins with observations that stir ones curiosity. It can also begin with a detailed answer to previous questions, experiments or observations. A researcher uses inductive reasoning. He explains his research study from specific observations. He then comes up with a general conclusion based from the specificity of his study.

Research involves a series of steps. A researcher makes his initial observations using his senses. From his broad range of observations, he formulates a testable hypothesis which can be based from widely accepted facts. An experiment is the next to be carried out. The experiment can be controlled with all factors unchanged or manipulated with one factor deliberately changed. The researcher collects the data that came from his designed experiment. These data will serve as supporting evidences for a unified explanation regarding his research. The data is then interpreted and results are established. From this, reasonable conclusions are drawn. Conclusions turn out to be laws, models or theories.

Laws are concise but general statements about the behaviour of the nature. It takes the form of a relationship or equation. Models are mental images of a phenomenon in terms of something people are familiar with. It serves as a mental or visual picture. Theories are attempts to solve a set of problems. It is broader and more detailed with a high mathematical precision.

Correlation method of research is a technique that measures the relationship between two principles. It studies the occurrence of two behaviors whether they tend occur simultaneously or not. Correlation may be positive such that when one value increases, the other value increases as well. On the other hand, it may be negative such that the relationship of between the two behaviours is inverse.

Correlation determines the cause-and-effect relationship of two behaviours. However, correlation is restricted only on the analysis of two behaviours. One variable is taken into consideration one at a time. Other factors may affect the behaviour of an element which may influence the conclusion of the research study.

Not all scientific research is experimental. A scientific research can simply be based on description and predictions. An experiment becomes scientific if it involves the use of scientific method which aims to organize facts to come up with a conclusion. A descriptive research can still answer questions regarding hypothesis, principles, facts and phenomena.  A scientific research is a scientific research if it makes inferences from either specific or general observations in order to come up with a unified explanation from these observations.

Researchers do research based on science or correlation. Scientific research employs scientific method which involves series of steps to answer questions regarding a certain phenomenon. This is brought by mans curiosity in his encompassing and changing environment.

On the other hand, correlation method of research studies the relationship between two behaviours. It determines the direction and strength of relationship between these behaviours. From the examined relationship, the researcher then concludes on the factors that may affect the behaviour of each element.