What's Behind the Research?

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Brent D. Slife - Brigham Young University, Provo, USA
Richard N. Williams - Brigham Young University, Provo, USA

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264 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

This volume encourages students to engage in critical thinking by exploring the main assumptions upon which behavioural science theories are based and offering some alternatives to these assumptions.

The text begins with a review and critique of the major theoretical approaches: psychoanalysis, behaviourism, humanism, cognitivism, eclecticism, structuralism and postmodernism. The authors then discuss the key assumptions underlying these theories - knowing, determinism, reductionism and science. They trace the intellectual history of these assumptions and offer contrasting options. The book concludes by examining ways of coming to terms with some of the inadequacies in the assumptions of the behavioural sciences.

Introduction

Human Images

Ways of Knowing

Determinism

Reductionism

Science and Human Behavior

Conclusion

Too specific

Dr Dick Heinhuis

Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam

February 20, 2015

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This book is well structured and methodically written. It takes a complex topic and makes it 'easy' to understand through clear, logical and concise writing.

Ms Claudia Bordogna

Dept of Transport and Logistics, Huddersfield University

October 6, 2011

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◀▶➕➖

Brent Donald Slife

Richard N. Williams

Richard N. Williams is founding Director of the Wheatley Institution. From 2001 through 2008, he served as an Associate Academic Vice President for Faculty and Professor in the department of Psychology at Brigham Young University. His specialty areas include the philosophical, theoretical and historical foundations of psychology, with concentration on issues related to human agency, as well the science of psychology and research methods and statistics. Williams has authored, co-authored, or edited numerous journal, articles, and books. He has been a visiting faculty member at Duquesne University and at Georgetown University. He holds an M... More About Author

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