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hypothesis. If they do, the existing hypothesis/attempting to disturb its natural flow. For theory is confirmed. If not, s/he will revise orexample, an explorer does not know what s/ state an alternative hypothesis/theory and he is looking for, how to look for it, and what again test it based on new data and draw to expect. Rather, s/he tries to map an conclusions which may be verified by future uncharted wilderness, with little or no prior researchers. Thus, research is a continuous knowledge of the area, and her/his main task process. is to record detailed descriptions of what is found in a particular context. Alternative Paradigms of Research Both scientific and interpretive traditions Psychologists suggest that human behaviour are concerned with studying behaviour and experiences of others. What about our own can and should be studied following the personal experiences and behaviour? As a methods adopted by sciences like physics, student of psychology, you may ask yourself chemistry, and biology. The key assumption of this view is that human behaviour is the question: why am I feeling sad? Many times you take a pledge that you will control your predictable, caused by internal and external diet or devote more time to studies. But when forces, and can be observed, measured, and it actually comes to eating or studying you controlled. In order to achieve these goals, theforget this. You might be wondering why one discipline of psychology, for larger part of the twentieth century, restricted itself to the studyoes not have control over one’s behaviour. Should psychology not help you in analysing of overt behaviour, i.e. the behaviour that your own experiences, thought processes, and could be observed and measured. It did not behaviour? It certainly should. The focus on personal feelings, experiences, psychological enquiry does aim at meanings, etc. In recent years, a different method known understanding the self by reflecting on one’s own experiences and insights. as interpretive has emerged. It emphasises understanding over explanation and prediction. It takes the stand that, in view of N ATURE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL D ATA complex and variable nature of human You may want to consider how psychological behaviour and experience, its method of data are different as compared to other investigation should be different from the sciences. Psychologists collect a variety of method of investigation of the physical world. information from different sources employing This viewpoint emphasises the importance of how human beings give meaning to events and diverse methods. The information, also called data (singular = datum), relate to the actions and interpret them as they occur in a individuals’ covert or overt behaviour, their particular context. Let us take the experiences subjective experiences, and mental processes. that may occur in some unique contexts, such Data form an important input in psychological as persons experiencing suffering due to enquiry. They in fact approximate the reality external factors (for example, people affected to some extent and provide an opportunity to by tsunami, earthquake, cyclone) or internal verify or falsify our ideas, hunches, notions, factors (for instance, prolonged illness, etc.).etc. It should be understood that data are not In such types of situations, objective independent entities. They are located in a measurement is neither possible nor desirable. context, and are tied to the method and theory Everyone interprets reality in her/his own way that govern the process of data collection. In based on past experiences and contexts. other words, data are not independent of the Therefore, we need to understand the physical or social context, the persons subjective interpretation of the reality. The goinvolved, and the time when the behaviour here is to explore the different aspects of occurs. We behave differently when alone than human experiences and behaviour without in a group, or at home and in office. You may 23 Chapter 2 • Methods of Enquiry in Psychology Reprint 2026-27