According to empiricism, where does knowledge come from in psychology?

• A. Knowledge comes from intuition
• B. Knowledge comes from experimentation
• C. Knowledge comes from authority
• D. Knowledge comes from rational deduction

Answer: (B)

Empiricism in psychology holds that knowledge comes from sensory experience and evidence gathered through observation and measurement. In this view, ideas are tested against data collected through experiments, where variables are controlled and outcomes are observed and replicated. That’s why experimentation is the best fit here: it provides systematic, observable evidence to support or refute ideas about behavior and mental processes.

Intuition relies on inner feelings rather than evidence, authority depends on accepted claims rather than data, and rational deduction uses logical reasoning from premises without necessarily grounding conclusions in observed outcomes. Empiricism requires the data produced by experiments to establish what we know.