Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science

In a recent paper we (Speelman & McGann, 2013) argued that psychology’s reliance on data analysis methods that are based on group averages has resulted in a science of group phenomena that may be misleading about the nature of and reasons for individual behaviour. The paper highlighted a tension bet...

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Auteurs principaux: Marek McGann, Craig P. Speelman
Format: Online
Langue:anglais
Publié: Frontiers Media SA 2021
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Accès en ligne:25552
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author Marek McGann
Craig P. Speelman
author_browse Craig P. Speelman
Marek McGann
author_facet Marek McGann
Craig P. Speelman
author_sort Marek McGann
collection Directory of Open Access Books
description In a recent paper we (Speelman & McGann, 2013) argued that psychology’s reliance on data analysis methods that are based on group averages has resulted in a science of group phenomena that may be misleading about the nature of and reasons for individual behaviour. The paper highlighted a tension between a science in search of general laws on the one hand, and the individual, variable, and diverse nature of human behaviour on the other. This Research Topic explored this concern about the pitfalls of using the mean for the basis of psychological science. The problem is universal in its applicability to psychology, and opinion papers, reviews, and original empirical research from all areas of the discipline were invited. A total of 16 authors contributed 9 articles to the Topic. The range of issues that the authors viewed through the lens provided is impressive. The papers in this collection include a range of perspectives that provide concrete examples of how to approach research design, data collection, and analysis differently. No one contribution will provide a solution to our multifarious challenges, but nor should it. Our subject matter is complex and subtle, our investigations and methodological techniques will need to be equally so.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-429522024-03-29T08:01:23Z Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science Marek McGann Craig P. Speelman BF1-990 Q1-390 inference mean Average groups Individuals variability bic Book Industry Communication::J Society & social sciences::JM Psychology thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JM Psychology In a recent paper we (Speelman & McGann, 2013) argued that psychology’s reliance on data analysis methods that are based on group averages has resulted in a science of group phenomena that may be misleading about the nature of and reasons for individual behaviour. The paper highlighted a tension between a science in search of general laws on the one hand, and the individual, variable, and diverse nature of human behaviour on the other. This Research Topic explored this concern about the pitfalls of using the mean for the basis of psychological science. The problem is universal in its applicability to psychology, and opinion papers, reviews, and original empirical research from all areas of the discipline were invited. A total of 16 authors contributed 9 articles to the Topic. The range of issues that the authors viewed through the lens provided is impressive. The papers in this collection include a range of perspectives that provide concrete examples of how to approach research design, data collection, and analysis differently. No one contribution will provide a solution to our multifarious challenges, but nor should it. Our subject matter is complex and subtle, our investigations and methodological techniques will need to be equally so. 2021-02-11T09:40:35Z 2021-02-11T09:40:35Z 2018-02-27 16:16:44 2016 book 25552 16648714 9782889450435 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/42952 eng Frontiers Research Topics image/jpeg Attribution 4.0 International http://www.frontiersin.org/books/Challenges_to_Mean-Based_Analysis_in_Psychology_The_Contrast_between_Individual_People_and_General_/1073 http://journal.frontiersin.org/researchtopic/3349/challenges-to-mean-based-analysis-in-psychology-the-contrast-between-individual-people-and-general-s Frontiers Media SA 10.3389/978-2-88945-043-5 10.3389/978-2-88945-043-5 bf5ce210-e72e-4860-ba9b-c305640ff3ae 9782889450435 114 open access
spellingShingle BF1-990
Q1-390
inference
mean
Average
groups
Individuals
variability
bic Book Industry Communication::J Society & social sciences::JM Psychology
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JM Psychology
Marek McGann
Craig P. Speelman
Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title_full Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title_fullStr Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title_full_unstemmed Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title_short Challenges to Mean-Based Analysis in Psychology: The Contrast Between Individual People and General Science
title_sort challenges to mean based analysis in psychology the contrast between individual people and general science
topic BF1-990
Q1-390
inference
mean
Average
groups
Individuals
variability
bic Book Industry Communication::J Society & social sciences::JM Psychology
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JM Psychology
topic_facet BF1-990
Q1-390
inference
mean
Average
groups
Individuals
variability
bic Book Industry Communication::J Society & social sciences::JM Psychology
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JM Psychology
url 25552
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