What Is The Point Of Statistics In Psychology?

What is the use of statistics in psychology? Statistics usually attract the attention of the people who start a career in psychology. They believe that numbers are a thing of the past. Yet this troubling topic suddenly crops up.

What do scientists use statistics for? Why are statistics useful for psychologists and for people interested in psychology?

When we study psychology, we will come across the following courses, among others: ‘The Principles of Research’, ‘Data Analysis’, ‘Research Design’, ‘Psychometrics’, and so on.

These topics rely directly on statistical data. These classes cannot really motivate psychology students. So they are not one of the most valued parts of this profession.

In this article we will try to answer the questions that many students and curious people ask themselves. These questions arise when they come into contact with these subjects.

To formulate these answers, we will discuss psychology as a science. So in this article we will talk about the usefulness of statistics in psychology.

Research and methodology in psychology

You have to remember that psychology is a science. All findings of this discipline are based (or should be) based on the application of a comprehensive and reliable system, especially the scientific method. This method relies on the increasing collection of evidence using various mathematical tools.

Psychology is a far reaching discipline. It is applied in various fields: clinical, educational, sports, social, business, and so on. However, among the applied areas are the areas of research.

To make accurate decisions about an observable reality, we need mathematics. Mathematics gives us access to the meaning of the results we get from experiments and research.

If there were no statistical data in psychology, we would not be able to know whether the results we observe are valid and reliable.

A correct methodology and a mathematical study confirm the data obtained in our research. This will be useful when we want to apply it in real situations.

Psychology is a science. So for this reason you must use an abstract system that allows you to work as much as possible in a way that is free of opinions and subjectivity. This system is the scientific method.

One of the key aspects of this method is the use of statistics as an instrument. It is therefore very important to train psychologists so that they thoroughly understand at least the basic elements of statistics.

The usefulness of statistics in psychology

When you start studying psychology, it may seem that statistics in psychology have no immediate use. However, all psychology students quickly realize that they need those mathematical tools to thoroughly understand the subject.

After all, we will often find data and statistics from various studies. We will get in touch with validity coefficients and reliability coefficients of tests that psychologists use in therapies. We will also get to know mathematical models of cognitive processes…

The reasons are obvious why methodology and statistics are fundamental. After all, they are necessary to gain access to the findings that we obtain from research. So we must master this subject if we want to devote ourselves to research in psychology.

The reason is that you then gain insight into the extent to which the procedure used by the researchers is the most suitable. Moreover, in the same way you can also know how reliable the results obtained are.

The importance of knowledge of statistics and data analysis

Clinical psychology and other fields of application require ongoing training. This means that we have to be aware of the new changes in this discipline.

If we want to know and interpret the findings of academic psychology, it is necessary that we have a minimum knowledge of statistics and methodology. The knowledge of statistics and data analysis is a requirement for every psychologist.

Statistics in psychology is a topic that causes a lot of anxiety and some headaches. However, it is extremely rewarding and useful to know how to use the tools that statistics provide.

For this reason, it is important that students and people interested in psychology immerse themselves in the study of methodology and data analysis with enthusiasm.