Falsifiability

Limitations of the Scientific Method

Non-Empirical Questions

Example of an Empirical Question

Conceptualizing Single Variable Research Questions

Evaluating Research Questions

Empirical Evidence

Which of the following best describes the defining characteristic of an empirical question?

A question about whether it is 'right' or 'wrong' to use animals in research is considered an empirical question because researchers can measure the animals' physiological stress levels.

Match each psychological research inquiry with the classification that best explains why it is, or is not, considered an empirical question.

A researcher is evaluating the inquiry: 'Does frequent social media use lead to lower self-esteem?' To confirm this is a valid empirical question, arrange the following steps in the logical sequence required to analyze the inquiry's structure.

A cognitive psychologist wants to transform the vague interest 'Does sleep affect the mind?' into a specific, testable empirical question. Arrange the following components in the logical order required to synthesize a complete inquiry that can be resolved through systematic, observable evidence.

The scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to answering empirical questions because science relies on systematic, observable evidence.

A psychologist is designing a new research study. Which of the following best explains why the question 'Does practicing mindfulness meditation increase empathy in college students?' is classified as an empirical question, whereas the question 'Should college students be required to practice mindfulness meditation?' is not?

A researcher evaluates the inquiry 'Is it more ethical to use human or animal subjects?' and determines that it is not an empirical question. This judgment is correct because the 'ethicality' of a choice is a value-based decision that cannot be resolved through _____ evidence alone.

A research methods instructor presents four inquiries and asks students to identify the specific feature that determines whether each can be addressed using the scientific method. Match each inquiry to the feature that best explains its empirical or non-empirical status.

A student defends their proposed research question 'Are individuals who exercise regularly more likely to report lower stress levels than those who do not?' by arguing it qualifies as a valid empirical question suitable for scientific investigation. The student's justification is sound because this question asks about the way the world actually is and can be resolved by collecting and evaluating systematic, _____ evidence — the defining criterion that separates empirical questions from non-empirical ones such as value or aesthetic judgments.

Define what an empirical question is and explain why the scope of the scientific method is strictly restricted to addressing only these types of questions.

Based on the features of science and the definition of an empirical question, diagnose why the student's current question is not empirically testable, and explain how the student should modify their research focus to make it suitable for scientific inquiry.

A clinical psychologist wants to investigate mindfulness but starts with the question: 'Is mindfulness meditation a morally superior way to live compared to other lifestyles?' Apply the criteria for generating a valid empirical question to rewrite this inquiry so that it can be addressed using the scientific method.