ABSTRACT
What is science, and what is scientific research? A fairly obvious question at first glance. The common perception is that science is objective, systematic and involves experimental research. Most people view science as a world of black and white, right and wrong, correct theories and incorrect theories, proof and lack of proof. The stereotype is that you study science if you are meticulous, numerate and lack creativity, and that you study arts if you are flexible, imaginative and wish to make interpretations of your own. Obviously, as scientists you are aware that this picture is inaccurate. If science is black and white, how can you have two pieces of research that each show evidence for theories that oppose one another? Science is so open for interpretation, that it is impossible to say definitively what is science and what is not. For example, does a piece of sports psychology research based upon a questionnaire constitute scientific research? If so, does a structured piece of market research examining consumer behaviour, based upon a questionnaire, constitute scientific research? If so, what about a quest to find your ideal partner through the completion of a questionnaire?
