Investigating the Psychological World: Scientific Method in the Behavioral Sciences (Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology)

Synopsis

This Book Considers Scientific Method In The Behavioral Sciences, With Particular Reference To Psychology. Psychologists Learn About Research Methods And Use Them To Conduct Their Research, But Their Training Teaches Them Little About The Nature Of Scientific Method Itself. In Investigating The Psychological World, Brian Haig Fills This Gap. Drawing On Behavioral Science Methodology, The Philosophy Of Science, And Statistical Theory, Haig Constructs A Broad Theory Of Scientific Method That Has Particular Relevance For The Behavioral Sciences. He Terms This Account Of Method The Abductive Theory Of Method (atom) In Recognition Of The Importance It Assigns To Explanatory Reasoning. Atom Offers The Framework For A Coherent Treatment Of A Range Of Quantitative And Qualitative Behavioral Research Methods, Giving Equal Treatment To Data-analytic Methods And Methods Of Theory Construction.--publisher Description. Method, Methodology, And Realism -- Detecting Psychological Phenomena -- Theory Generation: Exploratory Factor Analysis -- Theory Development: Analogical Modeling -- Theory Appraisal: Inference To The Best Explanation. Brian D. Haig. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.