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

Investigations and its discontents some constraints on progress in psychological research

Paul Wachtel’s (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 psychology’s
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 Wachtel’s 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