Foundation of psychologyChapter 11The contribution of quantitative and qualitative research methods Quantitative research methods: research methods based on quantifiable data; are associated with the natural-science approach based on the hypothetico-deductive method.Assumptions underlying quantitative research methods There is an outside reality that can be discovered Quantitative psychologists start from the assumption that phenomena in the world have an existence outside people’s minds.They defend the idea that humans can discover reality by using the scientific method.They are well aware of the fact that science is not a linear accumulation of facts but proceeds through trial and error. But are convinced that in the long term the scientific method based on the hypothetico-deductive model leads to an understanding of reality → scientific knowledge is cumulativeThe main aim of scientific research is to find universal causal relationships Researchers are primarily interested in discovering relationships between causes and effects.How general are principles? And how do humans function?Ideally they hope the mechanisms they discover will apply to all humans.Trying to avoid confounds and sources of noise Users of quantitative research methods are extremely vigilant about the possible intrusion of undesired factors into their designs.They try to maximally control the circumstances under which they run their studiesThey also try to eliminate the impact of...