The method for describing and explaining phenomena which incorporates the principles of empirical verification, operational definition, controlled observation, statistical generalization, and empirical confirmation.

Description is more important in the early stages of research and explanation is more important later.

1. The Principle of Empirical Verification A descriptive statement is regarded as true if and only if it is found to correspond with observed reality.

2. The Principle of Operational Definition

All terms in a descriptive statement must be carefully defined in terms of the operations involved in manipulating or observing their referents.

3. The Principle of controlled Observation

For an observation to provide an adequate test of the statement that a change on A causes a change on B, variable B must be observed when different values on variable A occur and, moreover, when all other variables can be discounted as possible causes of any change observed on B.

4. The Principle of Statistically Generalization

You can generalize an observation to conditions other than those under which it was made if the conditions under which it was made constitute an adequate random sample from the set of conditions to which you wish to generalize.

5. The Principle of Empirical Confirmation

An explanatory statement is regarded as being more probably true as the number of verified descriptive statements and confirmed explanatory statements with which it is found to be consistent increases.

The only way to confirm a hypothesis is to eliminate alternative hypotheses

From Psychological Investigation

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