Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology
Psychology wields advanced empirical tools yet still resembles Kuhn's pre-paradigmatic science. I argue that progress is blocked by two ontological obstacles: the crud factor, in which variables are cross-linked, and the intrinsic opacity of subjective experience. Variable-isolation experiments...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Methods in Psychology |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260125000128 |
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| author | Daniel Kerschke |
| author_facet | Daniel Kerschke |
| author_sort | Daniel Kerschke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Psychology wields advanced empirical tools yet still resembles Kuhn's pre-paradigmatic science. I argue that progress is blocked by two ontological obstacles: the crud factor, in which variables are cross-linked, and the intrinsic opacity of subjective experience. Variable-isolation experiments or law-seeking programs struggle in such terrain. I propose a holistic gears-based framework that articulates mid-range, interrelated qualitative mechanisms and effectively orients subsequent empirical investigation. The approach decomposes contested constructs into empirically anchored parts, traces their context-bound interactions, and invites indirect tests through carefully chosen proxies. Finally, I examine institutional incentives that currently sideline heavy theoretical work and thereby sustain persistent fragmentation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2ec5f281c1a14826a78f3add423bc9a4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2590-2601 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Methods in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2ec5f281c1a14826a78f3add423bc9a42025-08-20T03:21:52ZengElsevierMethods in Psychology2590-26012025-06-011210018610.1016/j.metip.2025.100186Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychologyDaniel Kerschke0WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Reichpietschufer 50, Berlin, D-10785, GermanyPsychology wields advanced empirical tools yet still resembles Kuhn's pre-paradigmatic science. I argue that progress is blocked by two ontological obstacles: the crud factor, in which variables are cross-linked, and the intrinsic opacity of subjective experience. Variable-isolation experiments or law-seeking programs struggle in such terrain. I propose a holistic gears-based framework that articulates mid-range, interrelated qualitative mechanisms and effectively orients subsequent empirical investigation. The approach decomposes contested constructs into empirically anchored parts, traces their context-bound interactions, and invites indirect tests through carefully chosen proxies. Finally, I examine institutional incentives that currently sideline heavy theoretical work and thereby sustain persistent fragmentation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260125000128 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Kerschke Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology Methods in Psychology |
| title | Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology |
| title_full | Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology |
| title_fullStr | Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology |
| title_short | Structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind: A proposal for a model-based paradigm for psychology |
| title_sort | structural barriers to the formation of theories about the mind a proposal for a model based paradigm for psychology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260125000128 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielkerschke structuralbarrierstotheformationoftheoriesaboutthemindaproposalforamodelbasedparadigmforpsychology |