Goals Of Psychological Studies

Psychologists have accepted scientific method and try to generate knowledge which stands well on the above mentioned criteria of science. As scientists they try to achieve the following goals regarding the objective of their study. 

1. Description: The first step towards gaining understanding is to obtain a proper or systematic description of the phenomenon under study. It determines the range and boundary of the phenomena. 

2. Explanation: Explanation means statement of the factors which determine the phenomenon under study. In other words, one may say that explanation provides the factors which make something happen. Thus, when a psychologist shows that practice leads to change in behavior he or she is explaining learning. 

3. Prediction: Once we are able to get the explanation of some phenomena we are in a position to tell or predict what will happen under certain circumstances. The ability to make prediction is based on systematic analysis of the various causal factors. The presence or absence of those factors can help one to tell what will happen in future. 

4. Control: The ability to predict provides the knowledge necessary to bring the change that is desirable. For instance, use of polio vaccine prevents the occurrence of polio. Similarly practicing yoga or relaxation can be used to improve health and quality of life of the people. Thus knowledge can be used to produce results desired by the user of knowledge. This, however, is possible only when we have scientific knowledge.