Psychology relies on which philosophical viewpoint that knowledge comes from experiment?

Psychology relies on which philosophical viewpoint that knowledge comes from experiment?

• A. Empiricism
• B. Rationalism
• C. Nativism
• D. Structuralism

Answer: (A)

Knowledge in psychology grows through observation and experimentation. This empirical approach says what we know comes from experience and the data we can observe, measure, and test in controlled ways. That’s why empiricism fits best: it treats evidence gathered from experiments as the basis for building and evaluating ideas about behavior and mental processes. Rationalism would prioritize reasoning over experience, nativism argues for innate ideas, and structuralism is more about describing conscious experience through internal reflection rather than focusing on knowledge arising from experimental evidence.

Knowledge in psychology grows through observation and experimentation. This empirical approach says what we know comes from experience and the data we can observe, measure, and test in controlled ways. That’s why empiricism fits best: it treats evidence gathered from experiments as the basis for building and evaluating ideas about behavior and mental processes.

Rationalism would prioritize reasoning over experience, nativism argues for innate ideas, and structuralism is more about describing conscious experience through internal reflection rather than focusing on knowledge arising from experimental evidence.