| applied research | Research carried out to investigate a real-world problem.
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| basic research | Research carried out primarily to test a theory or empirical issues.
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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 of belief.
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| circular explanation (or tautology) | An explanation of behavior that refers to factors whose only proof of existence is the behavior they are being called on to explain.
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| commonsense explanations | Loose explanations for behavior that are based on what we believe to be true about the world.
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| confirmation bias | The human tendency to seek out information that confirms what is already believed.
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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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| hypothesis | A tentative statement, subject to empirical test, about the expected relationship between variables.
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| method of authority | Relying on authoritative sources (e.g., books, journals, scholars) for information.
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| parsimonious explanation | An explanation or theory that explains a relationship using relatively few assumptions.
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| pilot study | A small, scaled-down version of a study used to test the validity of experimental procedures and measures.
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| pseudoexplanation | An explanation proposed for a phenomenon that simply relabels the phenomenon without really explaining it.
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| pseudoscience | Claims that are made on the basis of evidence that is designed to appear scientific; such evidence is not based on the principles of the scientific method, however.
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| rational method | Developing explanations through a process of deductive reasoning.
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| research | The principal method for acquiring knowledge and uncovering the causes for behavior.
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| science | A set of methods used to collect information about phenomena in a particular area of interest and build a reliable base of knowledge about them.
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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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| 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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| scientist | A person who adopts the methods of science in his or her quest for knowledge.
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| variable | Any quantity or quality that can take on a range of values.
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