**Investigating the Nuances of Psychological Theory: A Virtual Exchange**
The ongoing conversation sparked by Ekaterina Damer on Twitter has incited considerable curiosity and participation from psychologists worldwide, resulting in a thoughtful collection of suggested readings concerning psychological theory. Below is a carefully assembled list of significant recommendations from esteemed individuals in the domain, acting as a precious asset for those keen to explore the diverse viewpoints shaping modern psychological conversations.
1. **Iris van Rooij**
– **Robert Cummins**: “[How does it function?” vs. “What are the principles?” Two perspectives on psychological explanation.](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f5b1/b05e8313aee94ccd98e80eab3ec56dbd2c97.pdf)
Cummins delivers a detailed exploration of the contrasting methodologies in psychological explanation, providing essential insights into the formation and comprehension of theories.
2. **Ed Orehek**
– “[Constructing Theory in Social Personality Psychology: Personal Experiences and Insights: A Special Issue of Personality and Social Psychology Review](http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327957pspr0802_1)”
This article offers an in-depth examination of theory construction in social personality psychology, utilizing personal anecdotes and research-based evidence.
3. **Djouria Ghilani**
– **Gerd Gigerenzer**: “[Personal Insights on Theory and Psychology](http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0959354310378184)”
Gigerenzer provides personal reflections on the fusion of theory and psychology, considering the influence of theoretical models on psychological inquiry.
4. **General Consensus (Tal Yarkoni)**
– **Paul Meehl**’s significant works, including:
– “[Theory-testing in psychology and physics: A methodological dilemma](http://meehl.umn.edu/sites/g/files/pua1696/f/074theorytestingparadox.pdf)”
– “[Evaluating and revising theories: The strategy of Lakatosian defense with two principles that justify it](http://meehl.umn.edu/sites/g/files/pua1696/f/147appraisingamending.pdf)”
– “[Why summaries of research on psychological theories often lack clarity](http://meehl.umn.edu/sites/g/files/pua1696/f/144whysummaries.pdf)”
Meehl’s comprehensive research confronts essential issues in theory evaluation and testing, underscoring the need for methodical precision and theoretical transparency.
5. **Burak Tunca**
– **Robert I. Sutton & Barry M. Staw**: “[What Theory is Not](http://haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/papers/stawtheory.pdf)”
Sutton and Staw differentiate valid theories from invalid ones, providing critical insights into the process of theory development.
6. **Joshua Skewes**
– **Valerie Gray Hardcastle**: “Constructing a theory in cognitive science.”
7. **Randy McCarthy**
– **Gawronski & Bodenhausen**: “Theory and explanation in social psychology.”
This document acts as a foundational reference for grasping theory and its significance in social psychology.
8. **Kimberly Quinn**
– **W.J. McGuire**: “[Innovative Hypothesis Generation in Psychology: Some Beneficial Heuristics](http://sing.stanford.edu/cs303-sp11/papers/mcguire_hypothesis_gen.pdf)”
McGuire’s work introduces inventive strategies for generating hypotheses, filled with heuristic tools.
9. **Daniël Lakens**
– **Jaccard & Jacoby**: “Gaining Skills in Theory Construction and Model-Building: A Practical Manual for Social Scientists.”
10. **Tom Stafford**
– **Roberts & Pashler**: “[How convincing is a good fit? A critique on theory evaluation](https://cloudfront.escholarship.org/dist/prd/content/qt5vt0z72k/qt5vt0z72k.pdf)”
This piece challenges the acceptance of model fitting in theory testing, promoting a more cautious approach to interpreting empirical findings.
**Latest Updates (16 August 2018):**
11. **Richard Prather**
– **Simmering et al (2010)**: “[To Model or Not to Model? A Discussion on the Importance of Computational Modeling in Developmental Science](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103214/)”
12. **Brett Buttliere**
– [Psychological Theory Discussion Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/153619768802306/about/)
13. **Eric Morris**
– **K