The Problem with Psychology

The Problem with Psychology

As many undergraduate students point out, psychology is a very interesting subject. In fact, psychology is among the most popular majors chosen at colleges and universities. However, there are several problems with the way that psychologists obtain data that is later taught in introductory and even higher level courses in the discipline. The study of psychology depends in large part on research studies. As many who have taken research methods or quantitative methods courses know, random sampling is crucial in ensuring that results can be generalized to the general population. Notwithstanding, most psychological research is done with psychology students, often in exchange for course credit (or percentage points towards the final course grade).

What is life? What is our nature? Photo by Elena

Thus, the samples used in psychological research are often far from being random and are consequently difficult to apply to the general population. The problem has often been described in the academic literature. Furthermore, in one particular study consisting of three parts, the behavioural scientists found that even among students, those who choose to participate in studies differ significantly from those who do not. As such, there are three different orientations described in the peer-reviewed article: prosocial, individualist and competitor. Naturally, prosocials are more oriented to help others and act altruistically. Alternatively, individualists are more concerned with self-interest or “what’s in it for them”. Finally, competitors focus on the difference of outcomes between their own performance and that of others.

The study (conducted by Van Lange et al., 2010) shows that students exhibiting prosocial orientation were more likely to participate in research than the other two groups. The researchers further theorized that students with a prosocial orientation were perhaps more likely to choose psychology as a major in the first place, given the opportunity in the field to help people. Indeed, psychologists often help people in the clinical and other settings. Therefore, the problem arises as to generalizing the findings of psychological research to the general population. Perhaps, the wisdom gained shows human nature in a skewed way, mostly applicable to undergraduate psychology students with a prosocial orientation and is thus inadmissible evidence to the population at large.

Reference:

• Van Lange, P. A. M. et al. (2010). Who volunteers in our experiments? An empirical view of prosocial motivation in volunteering. Personality and Individual Differences.