Why Science Matters: Understanding the Methods of Psychological Research rises above standard research methods texts by presenting an up-to-date view of contemporary psychological science as it is currently understood and practiced. Explores not only the procedural aspects of psychological research, but also delves into the issue of how to accomplish effective science. Explicates how hypotheses and theories are to be evaluated. Suggests that the proper approach to devising and evaluating theories is by abduction, not by induction or deduction alone. Incorporates new investigatory procedures, current methodologists, conflicts and issues, implications of the philosophy of science, and a lively prose style. Provides a picture of science that will engage students and expand their abilities as both scientists and psychologists.

Table of Contents:
Preface for Instructors viii Preface for Students x Part 1: Major Methodological Changes in Science from Antiquity to the Present 1 Chapter 1: Understanding Science: The Armchair versus Practice 3 Introduction 3 Justification of methodological practices 4 Precursors to contemporary science: an historical overview 8 Research paradigms, programs, and traditions 14 Naturalism: a brief introduction 16 Remainder of book 18 Chapter summary 19 Chapter 2: Major Issues to Emerge in 20th Century Approaches to Science 20 Introduction 20 Logical positivism 21 Operationism 26 Popper’s falsificationism 27 Kuhn’s psychologism and historicism 33 Chapter summary 38 Chapter 3: Methodology in the Postpositivist Era 39 Introduction 39 Naturalism in science 41 Lakatos’s sophisticated falsificationism 43 Laudan’s research traditions and normative naturalism 46 Giere’s cognitive approach 49 The rise of relativism 51 Chapter summary 54 Part 2: Naturalism and Modern Science 55 Chapter 4: Theory Testing 57 Introduction 57 Scientific theory 58 Types of theory 60 Hypothesis testing 63 Induction and deduction 70 Abduction and theory construction 72 Chapter summary 78 Chapter 5: Inference to the Best Explanation 79 Introduction 79 Evaluating theories: a critical evaluation of criteria 81 Resolution of ambiguity over time 83 Natural selection 85 Brain function and cognitive neuroscience 89 Consilience 92 Chapter summary 95 Chapter 6: The New Means of Understanding Science 96 Introduction 96 Empirical methods for better understanding science, scientific practice, and scientists 97 Chapter summary 118 Part 3: Applying Naturalism to Contemporary Methodological Issues in Psychology 119 Chapter 7: Postmodernism and the Rejection of the Conventional Conception of Science 121 Introduction 121 Underdetermination and incommensurability 122 Postmodernism 126 Our critique 137 Chapter summary 141 Chapter 8: Qualitative Research Methods 142 Introduction 142 Rationale for qualitative methods 145 Varieties of qualitative methods 151 Chapter summary 163 Chapter 9: Critical Evaluation of Qualitative Inquiry’s Approach to Qualitative Methods 164 Introduction 164 Justification of qualitative methods 167 Misunderstanding of positivism 170 Specific positions of qualitative researchers 172 Chapter summary 179 Chapter 10: Internal and External Validity 180 Introduction 180 Applications of scientific psychology 183 Scientific psychology opposes pseudoscience 187 Chapter and book summary 191 References 195 Glossary of Terms 210 Glossary of Names 217 Author Index 221 Subject Index 226