About this resource

    Type of resources
    Primary Source, Reading, Paper
    Education level(s)
    College / Upper Division (Undergraduates)
    Primary user(s)
    Student
    Subject area(s)
    Applied Science, Social Science
    Language(s)
    English
    Cluster
    Replication and Meta-Research, Replication Crisis and Credibility Revolution
    Last updated
    3 June 2020
    Primary SourceReadingPaper

    Why Summaries of Research on Psychological Theories are Often Uninterpretable

    By Paul Meehl

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    Level College / Upper Division (Undergraduates) · For Student · Language English

    Abstract

    Null hypothesis testing of correlational predictions from weak substantive theories in soft psychology is subject to the influence of ten obfuscating factors whose effects are usually (1) sizeable, (2) opposed, (3) variable, and (4) unknown. The net epistemic effect of these ten obfuscating influences is that the usual research literature review is well-nigh uninterpretable. Major changes in graduate education, conduct of research, and editorial policy are proposed.

    Keywords Reproducibility Crisis and Credibility Revolution