Lecture 1 - Research In Psychology

Question 1

What are the different ways of knowing?

Answer 1

Intuition, Authority, Rationalism and Empiricism

Question 2

What is Intuition?

Answer 2

Knowing based on gut instinct and emotion - very easy, but often wrong due to lack of logical thinking involved

Question 3

What is Authority?

Answer 3

Knowing via accepting what authority figures tell you are true e.g. parents, media, doctors. Easy but often wrong.

Question 4

What is Rationalism?

Answer 4

Knowing via the use of logic and reasoning. Can be very useful with practice and good information and can address what cannot be experienced, but isn’t necessarily evidence based.

Question 5

What is Empiricism?

Answer 5

Knowing via observation and experience. Can use systematic procedures to increase value of evidence but cannot produce knowledge beyond the limits of experience