Authors:

Watts, F.N.

Reference:

Year of publication:

1992

CBU number:

2806

Abstract:

Psychology is currently in danger of fragmenting, and of being assimilated into a variety of neighbouring disciplines. This should be resisted because it would impoverish the prospects for a broad and comprehensive study of human nature. Nevertheless, the methodological and substantive tensions with psychology need to be explicitly recognised. For example, is a natural-science or a hermeneutic approach appropriate? What kind of measures should be taken to ensure objectivity? An enduring problem for psychology has been to achieve a fruitful relationship between basic research and professional/applied work. This has been exacerbated by a seldom-examined clash of values about the proper conduct of psychological enquiry.