Issues and Problems

     When an issue or problem arises it needs to be explored by any scientist in any of one’s field of science, in which field of science the issue or problem relates to. A scientist will use the scientific process which is the means to explore an issue or problem by using a three step process. McAdams, (2009) stated “science generally proceeds according to three steps: (1) unsystematic observation, (2) building theories, and (3) evaluating propositions” (p. 12). The first step, unsystematic observation is how one uses tools or one’s senses to develop a scientific understanding. The second step, building theories is how one makes a theory by organizing the observations from step one. McAdams, (2009) stated “scientists organize the various observations collected in Step 1 into a more-or-less coherent system that explains the phenomenon of interest” (p. 14). Step three, evaluating propositions one will attempt to evaluate or even justify what is true of a given statement which is proposed by a given theory, (McAdams, 2009). Reichenbach asserts “the theories of Step 2 that derive from the observations of Step 1 must be empirically tested in Step 3 as the scientist moves from the context of discovery to the context of justification” (as cited in McAdams, 2009).

References

McAdams, D. P. (2009). The person: A new introduction to personality psychology. (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.