What kinds of social psychology experiments are of value to perform? Comment

Author(s): Stangor, C., Crandall, C. S., Neuberg, S. L.

Journal/Book: J Personal Soc Psychol. 1995; 69: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Amer Psychological Assoc. 611-618.

Abstract: L. Wallach and M. A. Wallach (1994) argued that many hypotheses tested by social psychologists are either ''near-tautologies'' or derivable from ''near-tautologies'' and thus are of little interest. The authors of this article applaud their concern but find that their conclusions are based on flawed analyses and arguments. Their conceptualization of ''near-tautology'' is problematic. Their analysis is based on a misconceived notion of falsifiability and is inattentive to the social context within which scientific knowledge is accumulated. These problems undermine their efforts to offer a careful analysis of social psychological hypotheses. Most alarmingly, their flawed arguments imply a dangerously narrow prescription as to ''what kinds of social psychology experiments are of value to perform.''

Note: Article M Schaller, Univ Montana, Dept Psychol, Missoula, MT 59812 USA

Keyword(s): ILLUSORY CORRELATION; PERCEPTION; INCONCLUSIVENESS; INFORMATION; TAUTOLOGY; JUDGMENTS; INFERENCE; PROGRESS

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