Psychology is a science that studies the laws of the origin, development and functioning of the mind and mental activity of the person and groups of people. Psychology integrates the humanitarian and natural approaches. Psychology has a connection with both the natural and humanitarian sciences. The connection between psychology and the natural sciences is based on the biological nature of man. However, the peculiarity of man is that he/she is a social being and his/her psychic phenomena are largely socially determined. For this reason, psychology can be considered also as a humanitarian science. A distinctive feature of psychology is a fusion of subject and object of knowledge.
The scientific approach is aimed at the production and application in practice of the objective, the most reliable knowledge about nature, society, man, and psyche. In search of such knowledge psychology as a science uses an empirical method, theoretical method, special system of organization of knowledge.
Brief description of history of psychology
The development of the history of psychology has a multi-step process, which is aimed at obtaining and development of ideas about the latest methods of psychological research and understanding of the subject. The main stages of the history of psychology are next stages.
The first stage is characterized by the study of psychology as a science of the soul. It was based on numerous legends, myths, fairy tales and original beliefs in religion, which is sure to bind the soul to the specific living beings. At that time, the existence of the soul in every living being helped explain all the strange phenomena taking place.
Stage II (VII-VI centuries BC) is the stage that characterized by the study of psychology as a science of consciousness. This need arises during the development of the natural sciences. Since at this stage psychology was considered and studied at the level of philosophy, this stage was named philosophical period. The ability to feel, think and desire was regarded to consciousness at this stage. The most important method for studying psychological phenomena at this stage was the observation of a person and a description of the facts obtained.
Stage III (XX) is the stage that characterized by the study of psychology as the science of behavior. The main task of psychology at this stage becomes the formation of experiments and observation of all that can be directly studied. Scientists studied actions or reactions of a person, one`s behavior, etc. Thus, at this stage, it is possible to consider that psychology became an independent science. Also, it was a stage of the formation and development of experimental psychology.
IV stage is the stage characterized by the formation of psychology as a science that studies the objective laws of the psyche, their manifestations, and mechanisms.
Scientific research in psychology
At the very beginning of the XX tendency to change the object of psychology considerably increased. These changes became the scientific revolution in psychology.
American psychologist John Watson justified the idea that the main object of psychological research should be no human consciousness but behavior. The principles of a new direction in psychology Watson stated in a work titled "Psychology as behaviorists view it" (1913).
Psychoanalysis founded by Freud became another direction of psychology, which significantly changed the view on what should be studied in psychological researches. Freud was one of the first psychologists who refuted the view of man as a being who has full control over one`s behavior, feelings, etc. Freud was the first who stated that there is not only the conscious but also the unconscious influence humans significantly.
As the basic research methods for studying unconscious phenomena, Freud used dream analysis, and an analysis of the so-called "associative speech," i.e., speech, free from any restrictions, self-control.
Independent and dependent variables
The independent variable is connected with certain external conditions, factor influence. By using these factors influences the experimenters explores how the dependent variable changes. Human behavior, his emotional reactions, feelings may be dependent variables in psychological research. Independent variable is what the researchers can control purposefully. At the same time dependent variable - is something that can vary during the experiment depending on the influence of the independent variable.
There are two types of independent variables. For example, the experimenter can create a certain influence (independent variable) in the laboratory conditions. On the other hand, certain features of the individual features of one`s socialization, one`s relationship with parents, etc. may also be independent variables.
For example, in the study of how parents` evaluations, praise, and attitudes affect the development of self-esteem of their children, the independent variables are different types of valuations, attitudes of parents toward their child. The dependent variable, in this case, is children self-esteem (low, high self-esteem or narcissism).
Hypothesis formulation
The hypothesis is a scientific assumption arising from the theory that has not yet been confirmed or refuted. It is a scientific suggestion and prediction of study`s outcome. The hypothesis reflects the structure of the object, nature, and scope of relations between its elements, factors that contribute to these relationships. It is the main methodological tool of research. Hypotheses propose to solve the problems of a research and achieve its purposes. The nature of main hypotheses involves logic of study; all subsequent procedures are aimed at the justification, the proof or refutation of hypotheses.
Let assume that researchers are studying the impact of baby educational programs and cartoons on the cognitive development of children under the age of two years. In this case, researchers can hypothesize that watching child media is not able to influence the development of children under two years. Or conversely, experimenters can assume that children under two years of age who watch special child media program master speech sooner rather than kids who are not exposed to watching these programs.
Theory
A scientific theory is the highest form of organization of scientific knowledge. A theory gives a holistic view of the patterns and significant relationships of studied area of reality. The term "theory" comes from the greek. “theory”, which means the observation, examination, investigation, speculation.
A scientific theory is a system of logically interrelated statements, contain an evidentiary mechanism for constructing knowledge, it embodies a specific program of research, which ensures the integrity of the theory as a system of knowledge. From a methodological point of view of a scientific theory should seek to maximize the completeness and adequacy of the description, the integrity, and internal consistency.
Components of a scientific theory involve empirical basis (evidence obtained in an experiment), the theoretical basis (postulates, laws that describe idealized objects), the theory of logic (rules of inference and proof), the sum of statements and results.
