The Cycle of Enquiry. Sherratt et al., 2000 devised a 'circuit of knowledge' as a way to help students move away from common-sense reactions to psychological question
Psychological research starts
with the framing of
appropriate, answerable
questions.
Claims
The answers to these questions are
claims. These claims have to be clearly
identified so that they can be
thoroughly assessed.
Evidence / Data
Assessing claims requires
the amassing of information
called data. The word 'data'
is a plural word for the
building blocks that make up
the evidence that is
presented in support of a
claim.
Evaluation
The evidence then has to be
interpreted and evaluated. The
process of evaluation often
generates new questions to be
addressed as well as providing
support for, or disconfirmation of,
the origial claims.