| Confirmation bias | The human tendency to seek our information that confirms what is already believed.
|
 |
|
|
| Research | The principal method acquiring knowledge and uncovering the causes for behavior.
|
|
|
|
| Scientific explanation | A tentative explanation for a phenomenon, based on objective observation and logic, and subject to empirical test.
|
|
|
|
| Parsimonious explanation | An explanation or theory that explains a relationship using relatively few assumptions.
|
|
|
|
| Commonsense explanation | Loose explanations for behavior that are based on what be believe to be true about the world.
|
|
|
|
| Belief-based explanation | An explanation for behavior that is accepted without evidence because it comes from a trusted source or fits within a larger framework or belief.
|
|
|
|
| Pseudoexplanation | An explanation proposed for a phenomenon that simply relabels the phenomenon without really explaining it.
|
|
|
|
| Tautology | See circular explanation.
|
|
|
|
| Circular explanation (or tautology) | An explanation of behavior that refers to factors whose only proof of existence is that behavior they are being called on to explain.
|
|
|
|
| Method of authority | Relying on authoritative sources (for example, books, journals, scholars) for information.
|
|
|
|
| Rational method | Developing explanations through a process of deductive reasoning.
|
|
|
|
| Scientific method | The method of inquiry preferred by scientists. It involves observing phenomena, developing hypotheses, empirically testing the hypotheses, and refining and revising hypotheses.
|
|
|
|
| Variable | Any quantity or quality that can take on a range of variables.
|
|
|
|
| Hypothesis | A tentative statement, subject to empirical test, about the expected relationship between variables.
|
|
|
|
| Basic research | Research carried out primarily to test a theory or empirical issues.
|
|
|
|
| Applied research | Research carried out to investigate a real-world problem.
|
|
|
|
| Deductive reasoning | Reasoning that goes from the general to the specific. Forms the foundation of the rational method of inquiry.
|