Quiz 2. Goals And Research Methods

Explanation
Psychology aims to describe behavior by observing and documenting patterns of actions and thoughts. It also seeks to predict behavior by using research and data to anticipate how individuals may act in certain situations. Understanding behavior involves delving into the underlying causes and motivations behind actions. Lastly, psychology strives to change, control, and influence behavior by developing interventions and therapies to modify problematic behaviors and improve mental well-being.

Explanation
The question asks for the three general types of methods of psychological study. The answer provided includes the descriptive method, formal experiment, and statistical method. These three methods are commonly used in psychological research. The descriptive method involves observing and describing behavior without manipulating variables. The formal experiment involves manipulating variables and observing the effects on behavior. The statistical method involves analyzing and interpreting data using statistical techniques. These three methods are essential in gathering data, understanding behavior, and drawing conclusions in psychological research.

Explanation
The systematic method mentioned in the answer refers to a type of descriptive research method that involves the use of questionnaires, checklists, and tests. This method is contrasted with naturalistic observation, which is time-consuming. The systematic method is described as being time-saving and organized.

Explanation
The statistical method is used in psychological studies to interpret or treat data collected. This involves analyzing and summarizing data using statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, correlation, and regression analysis. It helps researchers to identify patterns, relationships, and trends in the data, and draw conclusions based on statistical evidence. This method is essential for making valid inferences and generalizations from the collected data, and it is widely used in various fields of psychology to make sense of complex data sets.

Explanation
A formal experiment is considered the foundation of all scientific work because it follows a systematic and controlled approach to studying psychological phenomena. The three steps mentioned, formulation of hypothesis, experiment to test the hypothesis, and acceptance, rejection, or modification of the hypothesis, are essential components of a formal experiment. This method allows researchers to gather empirical evidence and draw conclusions based on objective observations and measurements. By following this rigorous process, researchers can establish causal relationships between variables and make reliable predictions about human behavior and cognition.