A strategy for developing unifying theory in psychology

Joseph R. Royce

pp. 275-285

in: Arthur W. Staats, Leendert Mos (eds), Annals of theoretical psychology, Berlin, Springer, 1987

Abstract

Contemporary psychology is a highly diverse and conceptually fragmented discipline, consisting of a large collection of facts that we do not understand. This inability to convincingly explain observed phenomena has led to the development of a large number of theories in each of the major areas, such as learning, perception, and personality. Theoretical pluralism places a heavy load on the investigator which must be alleviated. How can the discipline best move away from the present chaos of fragmentation and diversity and toward more organization and unity? We must recognize the value of the conceptual aspect of science and increase our commitment to theoretical and meta-theoretical analysis. Within this general framework, I have specific suggestions for developing a unifying strategy. These are (1) to generate a large number of empirical laws, (2) to clarify the epistemological basis of different kinds of theory, and (3) to develop a bottom-up, part-to-whole, or "minitheory," rather than a top-down, whole-to-part, or "grand theory" strategy.