Psychological Science Under Scrutiny

In recent years, the prevailing view of psychology as a progressive science characterized by objective and replicable findings has been called into question, with some scholars arguing that the discipline’s conclusions may be less trustworthy than had been presumed. Psychological Science Under Scrutiny explores a wide range of these contemporary challenges to psychology’s assumptions and methodologies, and considers the advantages and disadvantages of various proposed remedies. In doing so, it aims to stimulate constructive debate around how the reliability of psychological research can be enhanced in order to ground the discipline more firmly in solid science. Challenges discussed include confirmation bias, the effects of grant pressure, false-positive findings, overestimating the efficacy of medications, and high correlations in functional brain imaging. The chapters are authored by internationally recognized experts, and written with a minimum of specialized terminology in order to ensure accessibility to students and lay readers.