Positivism and cognitive psychology

a second look

SIU L. Chow

pp. 119-144

in: Charles W. Tolman (ed), Positivism in psychology, Berlin, Springer, 1992

Abstract

Some psychologists recently have found traces of positivism in contemporary psychology at different levels of discourse. These tints of positivism are of concern because they may weaken the epistemological basis of psychology. At the same time, psychologists in different areas of study use various research methods. For example, much of what we know about cognitive processes come from experimental studies; most studies of individual differences employ psychometric techniques; quasi-experimental methods are used in evaluation studies; and social issues are investigated with nonexperimental methods (e.g., interview, survey). Consequently the legacy of positivism may be exemplified in different ways, as well as to various degrees, in diverse areas of study, as a result of methodological differences. An attempt is made in this chapter to explore why positivistic remnants are found in experimental studies of cognitive processes, as well as how they may be dealt with, so as to prevent our epistemological basis from being eroded.