| Abstract: | ![]()
Psychology is a science clearly capable of contributing greatly towards solutions for many individual and social problems which accompany the technological and economical upheavals in today's society. The growth of clinical and social research, within the domain of psychology, has been remarkable over recent decades. However, when analyzing the methods of research employed in psychological studies the question arise as to whether these methods (which derive mainly from traditional laboratory methodology) are really proficient enough to aid in the understanding of the problem being studied. Given the complexity and, especially, the lability of psychological phenomena there are many indications for a change in the methods used in psychological research. It would certainly be advantageous to contemplate turning towards observation methods and computer simulation, as are often used within the sciences of meteorology and astronomy, instead of continuing to apply methods of an experimental nature. This kind of change in approach, however, poses several problems. Two of the most salient difficulties involve the traditional way in which research methods are taught in the schools and the evaluation criteria used by granting agencies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
