The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016)
Melchert (2016) argues that knowledge of psychological processes is now grounded in experimental tests of falsifiable theories that support a unified, paradigmatic understanding of human psychology. While his argument for leaving behind our preparadigmatic past of competing theoretical orientations...
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| Format: | Article |
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American Psychological Association
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39418/ |
| _version_ | 1848795832429576192 |
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| author | Joseph, Stephen |
| author_facet | Joseph, Stephen |
| author_sort | Joseph, Stephen |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Melchert (2016) argues that knowledge of psychological processes is now grounded in experimental tests of falsifiable theories that support a unified, paradigmatic understanding of human psychology. While his argument for leaving behind our preparadigmatic past of competing theoretical orientations is welcome, Melchert (2016) presents a perspective in which the degree to which this is currently possible is overstated. In this comment it is argued that scientific research does not replace paradigmatic assumptions but takes place within them. As such, it is not possible to take the theoretical orientations out of the practice of psychology, which is inevitably an expression of our philosophical assumptions of first principles. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:38:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-39418 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:38:21Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | American Psychological Association |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-394182020-05-04T18:27:15Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39418/ The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) Joseph, Stephen Melchert (2016) argues that knowledge of psychological processes is now grounded in experimental tests of falsifiable theories that support a unified, paradigmatic understanding of human psychology. While his argument for leaving behind our preparadigmatic past of competing theoretical orientations is welcome, Melchert (2016) presents a perspective in which the degree to which this is currently possible is overstated. In this comment it is argued that scientific research does not replace paradigmatic assumptions but takes place within them. As such, it is not possible to take the theoretical orientations out of the practice of psychology, which is inevitably an expression of our philosophical assumptions of first principles. American Psychological Association 2017-06-30 Article PeerReviewed Joseph, Stephen (2017) The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016). American Psychologist, 72 (4). pp. 397-398. ISSN 1935-990X Psychological processes Preparadigmatic Theoretical orientations First principles http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/amp0000134 doi:10.1037/amp0000134 doi:10.1037/amp0000134 |
| spellingShingle | Psychological processes Preparadigmatic Theoretical orientations First principles Joseph, Stephen The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title | The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title_full | The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title_fullStr | The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title_short | The problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on Melchert (2016) |
| title_sort | problem of choosing between irreconcilable theoretical orientations: comment on melchert (2016) |
| topic | Psychological processes Preparadigmatic Theoretical orientations First principles |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39418/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39418/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/39418/ |