Why psychology struggles to build lasting scientific theories
In short: Researchers examining the field's current state found that psychology is facing a significant theory crisis. The authors argue that the difficulty in making cumulative progress stems from the inherent complexity of developing robust psychological frameworks, rather than a simple lack of effort.
The authors identify three philosophical hurdles: a lack of phenomena that constrain theory, issues with the validity of psychological constructs, and the difficulty of uncovering causal links. While the paper offers recommendations for progress, it focuses on analyzing the structural obstacles within the scientific process itself.
Why it matters: Understanding why psychological theories are hard to build is the first step toward solving the field's theory crisis.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Eronen and Bringmann (2021). The Theory Crisis in Psychology: How to Move Forward. Perspectives on Psychological Science. · cc-by-nc
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