Chapter 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology Looking for Laws: The Scientific Approach to Behavior Basic assumption: events are governed by some lawful order Goals: Measurement and description Understanding and prediction Application and control Figure 2.1 Flowchart of steps in a scientific investigation Steps in a Scientific Investigation Formulate a testable hypothesis Select the research method and design the study Collect the data Analyze the data and draw conclusions Report the findings Table 2.1 Key Data Collection Techniques in Psychology Looking for Causes: Experimental Research Experiment = manipulation of one variable under controlled conditions so that resulting changes in another variable can be observed Detection of cause-and-effect relationships