Bringing evidence together
Compare what different methods contribute to one explanation.
The picture in words
- Observation
- Record behavior in a defined setting.
- Personal report
- Ask how an experience is described.
- Biological measure
- Record a relevant bodily process.
Reading the illustration
Trace the three paths into the question folder. Each source contributes a different kind of evidence for comparison.
Try a question
Why could combining these sources give a fuller account of an emotional episode?
Show the explanation
Behavior, personal reports and bodily measures describe different aspects of the episode. Agreement and differences help researchers refine their explanation.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-1-what-is-psychologySelected rendered passages: Empirical evidence and methods passages.