#research-methods

#research-methods

It's rooted in old philosophy but runs today on experiments, observation, and data. Back in the late 1800s, Wilhelm Wundt had the bold idea to treat consciousness like something you could study in a lab, the same way you might study a chemical reaction or a falling apple. But people aren't atoms. We don't follow fixed laws. We're emotional and shaped by the world around us. Context, memory, trauma, culture, and love all matter.

A hypothesis is simply an assumption about user behavior, needs, or preferences that you want to validate (or invalidate). Think of them as "bets" you're making in your design. I typically use the following format for a hypothesis: I believe that [user group] will [do something/use something] because [reason or context]. I believe that first-time users will skip account setup if it feels too long, because they want immediate value.

Berkeley Earth has been crucial in demonstrating the reliability of temperature records, amidst past controversies surrounding Earth's surface temperature data.