This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of using a method primarily for gathering research on human subjects that can be examined for later use. It will give a basic outline of the methods of investigation, their uses and their suitability. I will also look at the scientific method as a whole and examine the criticisms of this method using the writings of Hume and Popper.

The first method I will look at is the rt method which is built upon collected data from surveys etc. Its main plus points being that it uses a much larger sample than the other methods because it takes less time to collate the results. It is also useful because it allows for further research to be added - it can be updated. There are a number of problems with this. The subjects may not feel comfortable and could answer just to please the experimenter. A big problem with the method is that it does not give enough range for the subject. They are restricted within the boundaries of the tick boxes. The researcher can only learn so much.

The laboratory experiment gives the experimenter a greater chance to control the conditions and enables you to measure behaviour with g

Though there are many good and bad aspects of the scientific method, there is an underlying fault with all of them. The scientific method in psychology relies on empiricism. Empiricism is a view that all knowledge is derived from experience. The scientific method can ultimately be split into two attitudes. The first is the dogmatic attitude. Dogmatism is the wish to impose regularities on the basis that repetition of regularly occurring events mean that a belief in the truth of something proves that is correct. It relies on the view that you can confirm a belief by testing it. It is the product of an inductive method. It assumes that conclusions can be justified because you can repeatedly produce the same results. The critical attitude is that you can add to your belief and make it stronger through testing.

The natural experiment is seen by some as a non-experiment. It does not test an independent variable but rather analyses the variables on offer. This has the highest level of ecological validity because there are no test conditions as such.

Yet Popper goes further to criticise both the methods of deduction and induction. He points out "The demand for rational proofs in science indicate

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hume Popper, Method Psychology, scientific method, critical attitude, independent variable, dogmatic attitude, method psychology, fault scientific method, scientific method psychology, laboratory experiment, field experiment, experimenter control, fault scientific, relevant variables,
Approximate Word count = 812
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)