What went wrong when the king rode under the arch?

It was too low and knocked off his crown

How does the chain of blame unfold in the poem?

Each accused person blames another, ending with the king's own changes

What are the goals of psychological enquiry?

Description, prediction, explanation and control of behaviour, along with the applied goal of improving the quality of human life.

Distinguish between independent and dependent variables.

The independent variable is the factor manipulated by the experimenter (the assumed cause), while the dependent variable is the response measured as the effect.

What is the chief advantage of the experimental method?

It allows the researcher to establish a cause-and-effect relationship by manipulating the independent variable while controlling extraneous variables.

Why does correlation not imply causation?

A correlation only shows that two variables vary together in direction and strength; a third variable or chance may explain the relationship, so it cannot prove that one causes the other.

What does a negative correlation mean?

It means that as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other decreases (e.g. more practice with fewer errors).

What is a case study?

An in-depth study of a single individual, group or event using multiple methods to obtain detailed information.

Differentiate participant and non-participant observation.

In participant observation the observer becomes part of the group being observed; in non-participant observation the observer records behaviour from a distance without joining in.

What is meant by standardisation of a test?

It is the establishment of uniform procedures and norms so that a test can be administered and scored in the same way for everyone.

Name three ethical principles in psychological research.

Voluntary participation with informed consent, debriefing the participants afterwards, and maintaining confidentiality of the information shared.

Methods of Enquiry in Psychology

Q: List the steps in conducting scientific research.

Conceptualising a problem, collecting data, drawing conclusions, and revising research conclusions and theory.

Class 11 Psychology · Psychology · Chapter 2

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CBSE Class 11 · Psychology

Methods of Enquiry: 13 marks, biggest unit

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CBSE Class 11 · Psychology

Methods of Enquiry: 13 marks, biggest unit

Marks booster + cheatsheet: key concepts in 2 lines each
11 marks each: Units I and III
9 marks: Learning, Unit V
8 marks each: Perception and Memory
Every school with its founder
Comparisons examiners ask for

Page 1 free about 8 min read, Full kit about 55 min read

₹159See the full kit

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Summary

This chapter explains how psychologists study behaviour scientifically. The goals of psychological enquiry are description, prediction, explanation and control of behaviour, with the applied goal of improving the quality of life. Scientific research follows steps: conceptualising a problem, collecting data, drawing conclusions and revising research conclusions and theory. Besides the quantitative scientific paradigm, psychology also uses interpretive and qualitative paradigms. Psychological data may be demographic, physical, physiological or psychological, gathered as participants' subjective reports or observers' records. Important methods include the observational method (naturalistic or controlled, participant or non-participant), the experimental method which establishes cause-and-effect by manipulating an independent variable and measuring its effect on a dependent variable while controlling extraneous variables, correlational research which measures the direction and strength of a relationship (positive, negative or zero) without proving causation, survey research using interviews and questionnaires, psychological testing using standardised tests, and the case study which gives an in-depth picture of an individual. Data are analysed using quantitative methods (frequency, graphs, descriptive statistics) and qualitative methods such as narrative and content analysis. Psychological enquiry has limitations of subjectivity, lack of control and measurement difficulty. Ethical issues require voluntary participation, informed consent, debriefing, confidentiality and sharing results.

Goals of Psychological EnquirySteps in Conducting Scientific ResearchAlternative Paradigms of ResearchNature of Psychological DataObservational MethodExperimental MethodCorrelational ResearchSurvey ResearchPsychological TestingCase StudyAnalysis of DataEthical Issues

Key terms

Independent variable

The factor deliberately manipulated by the experimenter that is assumed to be the cause of the effect being studied.

Dependent variable

The behaviour or response that is measured as the effect of changes in the independent variable.

Extraneous variable

Any factor other than the independent variable that may influence the dependent variable and must be controlled.

Correlation

A measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables, which may be positive, negative or zero.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behaviour as it occurs in its natural setting without interference from the observer.

Standardisation

The process of establishing uniform procedures for administering and scoring a psychological test.

Informed consent

An ethical requirement that participants agree to take part after being told about the nature of the study.

Extra questions & answers

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Which is NOT a goal of psychological enquiry?

Flashcards & interactive practice