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Research Into Practice

Research Into Practice Simon Kennedy (ANZJFT, 19, 1) points out an old truth that applies as much to butchers, bakers and candlestick makers as it does to psychological researchers: we do not look at what we do not look for. He notes the value of looking twice at research that fails to support our assumptions. An even more extreme case can be made: that these ‘failed’ experiments are the only truly remarkable experiments in psychology, because of the psychology of psychology experiments. The power of experimenter expectancy has been well documented (e.g. Rosenthal, 1966), but experimenters remain expectant. As researchers we rarely sit back and observe the splendour of human behaviour in all its confusion. Like weather forecasters, we are sure there is a pattern here somewhere, but unlike weather forecasters, we are not observing cold fronts and shallow depressions, but subjects who are themselves certain that there is some sort of pattern in their lives. Even if we did not attempt to ‘experiment’ in order to demonstrate patterns in our subject matter, under these circumstances, patterns would be highly likely to appear. But we do experiment. A good experimenter tries to create an environment in which the pendulum of response http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy Wiley

Research Into Practice

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
1998 The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy
ISSN
0814-723X
eISSN
1467-8438
DOI
10.1002/j.1467-8438.1998.tb00319.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Simon Kennedy (ANZJFT, 19, 1) points out an old truth that applies as much to butchers, bakers and candlestick makers as it does to psychological researchers: we do not look at what we do not look for. He notes the value of looking twice at research that fails to support our assumptions. An even more extreme case can be made: that these ‘failed’ experiments are the only truly remarkable experiments in psychology, because of the psychology of psychology experiments. The power of experimenter expectancy has been well documented (e.g. Rosenthal, 1966), but experimenters remain expectant. As researchers we rarely sit back and observe the splendour of human behaviour in all its confusion. Like weather forecasters, we are sure there is a pattern here somewhere, but unlike weather forecasters, we are not observing cold fronts and shallow depressions, but subjects who are themselves certain that there is some sort of pattern in their lives. Even if we did not attempt to ‘experiment’ in order to demonstrate patterns in our subject matter, under these circumstances, patterns would be highly likely to appear. But we do experiment. A good experimenter tries to create an environment in which the pendulum of response

Journal

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 1998

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