Confirmation bias | The human tendency to seek our information that confirms what is already believed.
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Research | The principal method acquiring knowledge and uncovering the causes for behavior.
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Scientific explanation | A tentative explanation for a phenomenon, based on objective observation and logic, and subject to empirical test.
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Parsimonious explanation | An explanation or theory that explains a relationship using relatively few assumptions.
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Commonsense explanation | Loose explanations for behavior that are based on what be believe to be true about the world.
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Belief-based explanation | An explanation for behavior that is accepted without evidence because it comes from a trusted source or fits within a larger framework or belief.
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Pseudoexplanation | An explanation proposed for a phenomenon that simply relabels the phenomenon without really explaining it.
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Tautology | See circular explanation.
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Circular explanation (or tautology) | An explanation of behavior that refers to factors whose only proof of existence is that behavior they are being called on to explain.
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Method of authority | Relying on authoritative sources (for example, books, journals, scholars) for information.
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Rational method | Developing explanations through a process of deductive reasoning.
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Scientific method | The method of inquiry preferred by scientists. It involves observing phenomena, developing hypotheses, empirically testing the hypotheses, and refining and revising hypotheses.
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Variable | Any quantity or quality that can take on a range of variables.
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Hypothesis | A tentative statement, subject to empirical test, about the expected relationship between variables.
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Basic research | Research carried out primarily to test a theory or empirical issues.
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Applied research | Research carried out to investigate a real-world problem.
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Deductive reasoning | Reasoning that goes from the general to the specific. Forms the foundation of the rational method of inquiry.
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