Why did Layard apply scientific methods to psychology?
The success of scientific methodology in understanding the natural world, particularly in ornithology, convinced me of its potential for other fields. I observed that by breaking down complex phenomena into observable components, categorizing them, and seeking consistent relationships, one could gain genuine understanding. This empirical approach, I felt, was far more reliable than conjecture or tradition. Applying these methods to human behavior, especially in the educational contexts of the colonies, seemed a logical extension of this scientific imperative.
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