This chapter introduces the central role that empirical research plays in social psychology as well as approaches to research that will be referred to throughout the text. Several examples of real-life issues are given with follow-up discussions of how these have been studied. Different approaches for conducting research-correlational, experimental; field and laboratory; meta-analytic-are discussed, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, ethics related to studying social psychological issues and the history of review guidelines and procedures are discussed.