Philosophy of Science Issues

• What is a theory?• Are theories capable of proof?• What is a law• What is meant by scientific determinism?• What is the difference between fatalism

and determinism?

Jones (1985) Waxing & Waning of Research Topics in Social Psychology

Waxing:• Social & political Zeitgeist• Personal interest and characteristics of the

researcher• Power of a good theory—heuristic quality• Convenient research paradigms• Prestige of researcher/laboratory• Availability of funding/editorial policies of

journals/student interest• Freedom offered by a new research area

Jones (1985) Waxing & Waning of Research Topics in Social Psychology

Waning:• Problem is solved• Dead end appears• Discovery of methodological flaws• Research paradigms may be vulnerable to

changes in ethical standards and practices

Kuhn (1962) The structure of scientific revolutions.

• Normal science: research based upon previous scientific achievements

• Paradigms: laws, theories, application, instrumentation providing models for research traditions

• Revolutions: the rapid discarding of an older paradigm and its rapid replacement by a new paradigm

Kuhn’s (1962) Model of Scientific Revolution

Revolution

Emergence of a new paradigm

Normal science

Data doesn’t fit ???

New cases appear

New technology

New measurement

New world view

Standardization

Textbook popularization

Ring (1972): “Let’s Get Started: An Appeal to What’s Left in Psychology”

• Psychology should side with the powerless in society and do research to advance their interests

• Whose interests does psychology serve? Who funds psychology? Who hires psychologists?

Ring (1972): “Let’s Get Started: An Appeal to What’s Left in Psychology”

Roles for psychology:1. Investigation2. Advocacy

Relevant institutions: police, courts, prisons, schools, welfare bureaucracy, gov’t. agencies, mental hospitals, universities, etc.

Ring (1972): “Let’s Get Started: An Appeal to What’s Left in Psychology

Research should have three components:

1. Description2. Analysis3. Criticism

Ring (1972): “Let’s Get Started: An Appeal to What’s Left in Psychology

Research requirements for psychologists:1. Journalistic ability to penetrate institutional

screen2. Broad sociological framework3. An ability to describe and document the

psychological effects of the institution upon its clients

4. A concern for systematic data collection5. Development of alternative institutional

arrangements (counter-institutions)

Is it psychology? Ring states that activism is OK when:

• Activism is undertaken for responsible, wealthy clients.

• It is to the individual’s (or profession’s) financial interest.

• Activism does not threaten the political order by suggesting an external causation for social problems

Kurt Lewin

• No theory without application, no application without theory

• Action research• Founder of group

dynamics• Active in experimental

psychology, personality theory, developmental psychology, group therapy, and applied social psychology.

Kurt Lewin

• No theory without application, no application without theory

• Action research• Founder of group dynamics• Active in experimental psychology, personality theory,

developmental psychology, group therapy, and applied social psychology.

Qualitative Action Research (1992)Fine & Vanderslice

• Kurt Lewin is their model: the interconnection between theory and practice

• Research as change

• Researchers are passionate, political individuals which suffuse our choice of research questions, methods, interpretations and our writing

• Do we still believe in a value-free science?

• How does activist research transform the role of researcher?

• Is there really a distinction between the objective researcher and one with a position?

Qualitative Action Research (1992)Fine & Vanderslice (continued)

• Activist researcher assumes all research is biased or at least slanted in some political direction.

• Activist researcher is involved in the change effort.

• Data collection itself is empowering and a strategy for change—it is an intervention.

Activist researchers have these characteristics:

• Activist researchers assume all research is biased, or at least, skewed in some political direction.

• Activist researchers are involved in the change effort.• Data collection itself is a strategy for change.• Data collection itself is an intervention.• Activist researchers involve all participants in discussing

their inter-relationships and power differences.• Researchers do not know more than those participating

in the social system under study.

Some concepts from Fine & Vanderslice

• Q-sort methodology: a card sorting task where individuals sort cards (which are printed with personality descriptions) into predetermined piles which have a specific number of cards to be added. A distribution is therefore forced.

• Grounded theory: a research method in which the theory is developed from the data rather than the other way around

• Praxis: the act of engaging, applying, exercising, realizing, or practicing ideas. The practical application of a theory