Final answer:
Psychologists use the scientific method, starting with asking a research question and then conducting preliminary research to inform their study and hypothesis formulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps Psychologists Take in Research
The first two steps that psychologists typically take to reach their goals and answer unknown questions involve using the scientific method. Firstly, they ask a research question that is specific enough to be studied effectively, yet broad enough to have universal relevance. This could involve inquiring about behaviors, mental processes, or physiological reactions within a given context or phenomenon.
Secondly, they conduct preliminary research to review existing literature and sources related to the question at hand. This helps to ensure that the research is grounded in what is already known, and can help refine the question further or point towards areas that have not yet been explored.
Upon gathering preliminary information, psychologists proceed to the third step, which is to formulate a hypothesis. This is a tentative explanation that can be tested through research, and further steps of the scientific method including experimentation and analysis will follow this step.