Three approaches to the disjunction between psychological measurement and psychological persons: methodological and ethical considerations

Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2010 Dec;44(4):299-309. doi: 10.1007/s12124-010-9129-4.

Abstract

In this paper, we take forward Schwarz's (2009) disjunction between measurement-apparatus-questionnaire and measurement-apparatus-man to examine how the crisis in contemporary psychology is related to assumptions about two sets of connections in research: connections between research tools, research behaviours, and psychological phenomena; and connections between researchers and researchees. By setting up a research problem with methodological and ethical implications, we describe three approaches that involve different assumptions and research activities in relation to the ways each makes these connections: Disassociated, Conventionally Connected and Persons in Dialogue Approaches. We argue that a Persons in Dialogue Approach is the most appropriate approach for a 21st Century psychology in crisis.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Behavioral Research / ethics
  • Behavioral Research / methods*
  • Behavioral Research / standards
  • Ethics, Research*
  • Human Experimentation / ethics
  • Human Experimentation / standards
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Models, Psychological
  • Psychometrics / ethics
  • Psychometrics / methods*
  • Psychometrics / standards