How Does Methods of Testing in Psychology: Observation, Self-Report Work?

Psychologists use observation and self-report to understand how people think and behave, like watching a favorite cartoon or telling your friend what you felt during recess.

Observation is like sitting quietly in the corner of the playground and watching your friends play. You don’t say anything, just watch what they do, how they react when someone falls, or who starts a game. Psychologists might sit in a classroom or a park to see how kids behave without them knowing they're being watched.

Self-report is like telling your best friend about the biggest cookie you ever ate, you share what happened from your point of view. Psychologists use questions, surveys, or even drawings to let people tell their own story. For example, they might ask kids to color how they feel on a happy-sad scale or write down what made them laugh that day.

Sometimes, psychologists combine both methods, like watching you play and then asking you what you thought about the game. It's like getting a full picture of your favorite cartoon, not just seeing it, but hearing what you think about it too!