NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Psychology Chapter 2 Methods of Enquiry in Psychology

Ans : The goals of scientific enquiry are: 
Description: It is important in scientific enquiry to describe a behaviour or a phenomenon as 
accurately as possible which helps in its proper understanding. 
Prediction: The second goal of scientific enquiry is understanding of a particular behaviour in 
relationship to other behaviours, events or phenomena. It tries to predict their occurrences under certain conditions with a margin of error. Prediction becomes more accurate with the increase in the number of persons observed. 
Explanation: The third goal of psychological enquiry is to know the causal factors or 
determinants of behaviour and the conditions where the behaviour does not occur. 
Control: If a person able to explain why a particular behaviour occurs, person can control that 
behaviour by making changes in its antecedent conditions. Control refers to three things: making a particular behaviour happen, reducing it, or enhancing it. 
Application: The final goal of the scientific enquiry is to bring out positive changes in the lives of 
people through application of a particular behaviour. 

Ans : The various steps involved in conducting a scientific enquiry are: 
Conceptualising a Problem: The researcher have to select a theme or topic for study. Then 
narrows down the focus and develops specific research questions or problems for the study. This is done on the basis of review of past research, observations, and personal experiences. Next, they have to prepare a hypothesis or a tentative solution of the problem. 
Collecting Data: The second step in scientific research is to collect data. Data collection 
requires developing a research design or a blueprint of the entire study. It requires taking decisions about the following four aspects: participants in the study, methods of data collection, tools to be used in research, and procedure for data collection. 
Drawing Conclusions : The next step is to analyse data so collected through the use of 
statistical procedures to understand what the data mean. This can be achieved through graphical representations such as preparation of pie-chart, bar-diagram, etc. and by the use of different statistical methods.lt helps to verify the hypothesis and draw conclusions by putting them into an appropriate context. Revising Research Conclusions:The existing hypothesis is finally confirmed on the basis of revision of data else, a new hypothesis is stated and tested by new data. The research may also be revised by other researchers, hence making it a continuous process. 

Ans : The nature of psychological data are: 
These are approximate the reality to some extent and provide an opportunity to verify or falsify 
our ideas, hunches, notions, etc. These are are not independent of the physical or social context, the persons involved, and the time when the behaviour occurs. 
The method of data collection such as survey, interview, experiment, etc. used and the 
characteristics of respondents such as, individual or group, young or old, male or female, rural or urban, etc. also influence the nature and quality of data. 

Ans : Experimental groups differ from control groups as independent variable manipulation occurs in an experimental group whereas it is absent in a control group. For example, in the study by Latane and Darley, there were two experimental groups and one control group. The participants in the study were sent to three types of rooms. 
In one room no one was present (control group). In the other two rooms, two persons were already seated (experimental groups). 
The independent variable, in this study, was the absence or presence of other persons sitting in the room. The remaining factors in the experiment were the same for both kinds of groups. In 
experimental groups, two persons were present with the real participant while in the control group, participant was alone. Therefore, it can be said that the manipulated variable is absent in control group. 

Ans : A study of relationship between speed of cycling and the presence of people. 
Hypothesis — As the speed of cycling increases people tend to move away fast. 
Field experiment — Two market places 
A boy is asked to ride a bicycle With different speeds in the market. 
Market 1 — It is observed that when the boy passes through the market street with high speed on the bicycle, people surrounding him will get away quickly in order to protect themselves from 
getting hit by the cycle. 
Market 2 — It is observed that when the boy passes through the market street with normal speed on the bicycle people around him will get away normally and slowly to give him the way as compared to the people of market 1. 
Conclusion — When the speed of the cycle is high people move away from it quickly and when the speed of cycle is normal people will move away slowly in comparison. 
Revision of research conclusion — The conclusion has matched the hypothesis. Therefore, the 
hypothesis is correct. 
Independent variable — Speed of cycle 
Dependent variable — Movement of people