Scientific realism, or the risks of importing research models into psychology

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-432
Author(s):  
David Carré
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Behavioral Research ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Philosophical Basis ◽  
The Standard Model

In “Scientific Realism and the Issue of Variability in Behavior,” Arocha (2021) develops an acute critique of “the standard model of current research practice in psychology” (p. 376), sharply dissecting five unwarranted assumptions behind it. To address these issues, the author proposes adopting a nonpositivist philosophical basis for behavioral research: scientific realism. Behind this argumentation, however, it is implied that scientific realism is fit for becoming the metatheoretical framework for psychology because it addresses the shortcomings of the current positivist model. In this commentary, I argue that scientific realism is not fit for becoming that philosophical basis, because it is open to reducing the discipline’s subject matter—the human person—to make it fit with models that have been fruitful in other sciences. Three historical examples are presented to show the risks of adopting models from disciplines devoted to explaining other phenomena to tackle the complexity of psychology’s subject matter.

scholarly journals Reflections on an application of realism in psychology

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-459
Author(s):  
Valery Chirkov
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
The Standard Model

This comment on “Scientific Realism and the Issue of Variability in Behavior” (Arocha, 2021) succinctly summarizes the features of the positivist background that are found in the standard model of research implemented in psychology; moreover, this comment emphasizes that this model is unable to move the psychological sciences toward discoveries. Arocha (2021) put the realist paradigm forward as an alternative for psychology researchers. This paradigm changes the ontological, epistemological, and methodological assumptions of psychological sciences. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the sociocultural and mental mechanisms of psychological functioning. The comment concludes with an outline of some objectives of realist psychological research.

Realist Representations of Particles

2021 ◽  
pp. 350-374
Author(s):  
Anjan Chakravartty
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Theory Change ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Selective Realism ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Over Time

While much debate about scientific realism concerns the issue of whether it is compatible with theory change over time, and certain forms of selective realism have been suggested with this in mind, this chapter considers a closely related challenge for realism: that of articulating how a theory should be interpreted at any given time. In a crucial respect the challenges posed by diachronic and synchronic interpretation are the same; in both cases, realists face an apparent dilemma. The thinner their interpretations, the easier realism is to defend, but at the cost of more substantial commitment. The more substantial their interpretations, the more difficult they are to defend. The chapter looks at this worry in the context of the Standard Model of particle physics. Examining some selective realist attempts at interpretation, it argues that realism is, in fact, compatible with different commitments on the spectrum of thinner to more substantial, thus mitigating the dilemma.

Indirect measurements in micro-space with the EM

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 598-599
Author(s):  
Sterling P. Newberry
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Standard Model ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Storage Space ◽  
Indirect Measurements ◽  
Storage And Retrieval ◽  
Adequate Information ◽  
Compelling Reason ◽  
The Standard Model

At the 1958 meeting of our society, then known as EMSA, the author introduced the concept of microspace and suggested its use to provide adequate information storage space and the use of electron microscope techniques to provide storage and retrieval access. At this current meeting of MSA, he wishes to suggest an additional use of the power of the electron microscope.The author has been contemplating this new use for some time and would have suggested it in the EMSA fiftieth year commemorative volume, but for page limitations. There is compelling reason to put forth this suggestion today because problems have arisen in the “Standard Model” of particle physics and funds are being greatly reduced just as we need higher energy machines to resolve these problems. Therefore, any techniques which complement or augment what we can accomplish during this austerity period with the machines at hand is worth exploring.

An Interview with the Physicist that Her Head in the Universe and Both Feet on the Earth

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adib Rifqi Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Additional Dimension ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
The Universe

Put simply, Lisa Randall’s job is to figure out how the universe works, and what it’s made of. Her contributions to theoretical particle physics include two models of space-time that bear her name. The first Randall–Sundrum model addressed a problem with the Standard Model of the universe, and the second concerned the possibility of a warped additional dimension of space. In this work, we caught up with Randall to talk about why she chose a career in physics, where she finds inspiration, and what advice she’d offer budding physicists. This article has been edited for clarity. My favourite quote in this interview is, “Figure out what you enjoy, what your talents are, and what you’re most curious to learn about.” If you insterest in her work, you can contact her on Twitter @lirarandall.

An Interview with the Physicist that Her Head in the Universe and Both Feet on the Earth

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adib Rifqi Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Additional Dimension ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
The Universe

Put simply, Lisa Randall’s job is to figure out how the universe works, and what it’s made of. Her contributions to theoretical particle physics include two models of space-time that bear her name. The first Randall–Sundrum model addressed a problem with the Standard Model of the universe, and the second concerned the possibility of a warped additional dimension of space. In this work, we caught up with Randall to talk about why she chose a career in physics, where she finds inspiration, and what advice she’d offer budding physicists. This article has been edited for clarity. My favourite quote in this interview is, “Figure out what you enjoy, what your talents are, and what you’re most curious to learn about.” If you insterest in her work, you can contact her on Twitter @lirarandall.

Enhanced Attribute-Based Authenticated Key Agreement Protocol in the Standard Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2156-2167
Author(s):  
Qiang LI ◽  
Deng-Guo FENG ◽  
Li-Wu ZHANG ◽  
Zhi-Gang GAO
Keyword(s):  
Standard Model ◽  
Key Agreement ◽  
Authenticated Key Agreement ◽  
Key Agreement Protocol ◽  
The Standard Model

Beyond the Standard Model

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Baulieu ◽  
John Iliopoulos ◽  
Roland Sénéor
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Supergravity Models ◽  
Standard Model ◽  
Field Theories ◽  
Beyond The Standard Model ◽  
Super Symmetry ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Topological Field ◽  
Supersymmetric Theories

The motivation for supersymmetry. The algebra, the superspace, and the representations. Field theory models and the non-renormalisation theorems. Spontaneous and explicit breaking of super-symmetry. The generalisation of the Montonen–Olive duality conjecture in supersymmetric theories. The remarkable properties of extended supersymmetric theories. A brief discussion of twisted supersymmetry in connection with topological field theories. Attempts to build a supersymmetric extention of the standard model and its experimental consequences. The property of gauge supersymmetry to include general relativity and the supergravity models.

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