How does the idealist ontology influence the scientific method in psychology?

Idealist ontology says that reality is fundamentally mental, so psychologists who adopt this view treat thoughts, feelings, and perceptions as the primary data. Because of this, the scientific method in psychology shifts from purely observable behaviors to carefully designed experiments that probe internal states, often using self‑reports, introspection, and psychometric tests. Researchers must therefore justify their methods by showing how mental constructs can be reliably measured, for example by validating a questionnaire that captures anxiety levels through repeated trials. This emphasis on internal experience leads to a stronger focus on hypothesis‑driven studies that link subjective reports to physiological markers, such as correlating brain imaging patterns with participants’ descriptions of their emotions. Ultimately, idealist ontology encourages psychologists to treat mental phenomena as real objects of study, shaping both the questions they ask and the tools they use.