Theory Development

Theory Development

1. Questions

   • Psychological research starts with the framing of appropriate, answerable questions.

2. Claims

   • The answers to these questions are claims. These claims have to be clearly identified so that they can be thoroughly assessed.

3. 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.

4. 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.