Siu L. Chow (1994) Theory-data Relations and Theory Acceptance
. Psycoloquy: 5(25) Metapsychology (5)
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Psycoloquy 5(25): Theory-data Relations and Theory Acceptance
THEORY-DATA RELATIONS AND THEORY ACCEPTANCE
Book Review of Rakover on Metapsychology
Siu L. Chow
Department of Psychology
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Canada S4S 0A2
chowsl@meena.cc.uregina.ca
Abstract
Evidence obtained with data collection procedures that
satisfy inductive and deductive logic provides a better basis for
accepting theories than do introspective data. Objectivity is
possible even though observations are theory laden. Metatheoretical
discussion is less misleading if the data-[inference]-theory
sequence is replaced with a phenomenon-theory-data sequence.
Keywords
behavior, causality, experimentation, explanation,
introspection, mind-body problem, observation, philosophy,
psychology, reductionism, science, theory.
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