Investigating the Psychological World: Scientific Method in the Behavioral Sciences
Brian D. Haig
Abstract
This book constructs a broad theory of scientific method, which speaks to the conduct of psychological research. This abductive theory of method (ATOM) portrays research as a bottom-up process comprising two broad phases: the detection of empirical phenomena, and the construction of explanatory theories in order to explain claims about the phenomena. ATOM functions as a broad framework theory within which a variety of more specific research methods can be located and employed. A coherent treatment of those methods is enhanced by placing them within the framework of ATOM. A subsidiary focus of ... More
This book constructs a broad theory of scientific method, which speaks to the conduct of psychological research. This abductive theory of method (ATOM) portrays research as a bottom-up process comprising two broad phases: the detection of empirical phenomena, and the construction of explanatory theories in order to explain claims about the phenomena. ATOM functions as a broad framework theory within which a variety of more specific research methods can be located and employed. A coherent treatment of those methods is enhanced by placing them within the framework of ATOM. A subsidiary focus of this book is a concern with science education in relation to behavioral research methods. Constructive proposals are made for reforming the research methods curriculum.
Keywords:
scientific method,
induction,
abduction,
phenomena detection,
theory construction,
science education
Bibliographic Information
Print publication date: 2014 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780262027366 |
Published to MIT Press Scholarship Online: September 2014 |
DOI:10.7551/mitpress/9780262027366.001.0001 |