8/14/2019 Alan Cummins, Alan Doran, Martin Kacor, Sean

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Alan Cummins, Alan Doran, Martin Kacor, Sean Moore - Trends and Issues PSY287

Investigations and its discontents some constraints on progress in psychological research

Paul Wachtels (1980) article, Investigations and its discontents some constraints on

progress in psychological research, represents both an enduring trend and a serious issue for

the field. Indeed, one could argue that the issues raised by Wachtel regarding psychologys

emphasis on: investigation at the potential expense of thought, quantative productivity and

grant funding are even more pertinent today (Lilienfield 2007), so much so, that an entire

issue of Applied and Preventive Psychology (October, 2007) was devoted to the relevance

of Wachtels observations nearly thirty years later. It must be highlighted that theses issues do

not apply solely to psychology, but according to Wachtel, these interlocking influences in

psychological academia have the effect of encouraging activity at the expense of thought.

The core principle of Wachtels complaints is the focus on empirical research as opposed to

theoretical construction. Most research requires the generation of fresh data under differing

conditions. But scant regard is paid to the synthesis of these findings into theory, in addition,

very little time is expended on contradictions, inconsistencies and implied assumptions within

experimentation. Psychologists are jack of all trade and theoretical specialisation is

required within the field.

Tied in with a lack of theoretical endeavour is the focus on productivity i.e. the amount of

published research. Departments and individual researchers are assessed on the number, not

necessarily the quality, of academic papers. This obsession, coupled with experimental focus,

places the emphasis on doing as opposed to logical thought regarding the issues involved.

Wachtel (1980) also highlights the distorting effect of grants on psychological inquiry.

Grants, rightly or wrongly, are increasingly used for university funding. Theoretical discourse

is a relatively inexpensive pursuit. Because grants require economic justification the

emphasis is on expensive, limited, saleable hypothesis testing. Researches subject to the

reinforcement contingency of grants are not always maximising scientific progress.

The above interacting issues coupled with the limitations of the experimental method (Orne,

1962) produce a pattern of research activity that has limited progress in our field. More

emphasis on observation and greater attention to detailed critical theorising is required.

(Wachtel, 1980)

References:

Ioannidis JPA (2005). Why Most Published Research Findings Are False. PLoS Med 2(8):

e124

Lilenfield, S.O. (2007). Academic Clinical Psychology in the 21st

Century. Applied and

Preventive Psychology, 12, 1-2

Orne, M. (1962). On the Social Psychology of the psychological experiment: With particular

reference to demand characteristics and their implications.American Psychologist,17,776-783

Wachtel, P.L. (1980). Investigations and its discontents some constraints on progress in

psychological research. American Psychologist, 35, 399-408