This article offers a compilation of suggestions regarding psychological theory and explanation that arose from a dialogue initiated by Ekaterina Damer. The discussion, which unfolded on Twitter, united perspectives from diverse psychologists who contributed their preferred readings. Below is a carefully assembled list of suggested literature, complete with concise descriptions and the names of the contributors.
1. **Robert Cummins**: “How does it work?” versus “What are the laws?” — This paper explores two views of psychological explanation, as suggested by Iris van Rooij.
2. **Personality and Social Psychology Review**: A dedicated issue focused on theory development in social personality psychology, advocated by Ed Orehek.
3. **Gerd Gigerenzer**: Reflective insights on theory and psychology that probe into the cognitive mechanisms behind theoretical advancements, shared by Djouria Ghilani.
4. **Barry N. Markovsky**: Delve into selected writings by Barry Markovsky for valuable perspectives on sociological and psychological theory.
5. **Paul Meehl**: Highly recommended by various individuals, including Tal Yarkoni, Meehl’s articles discuss theory evaluation, modifying theories, and synthesizing research outcomes in psychology. PsychBrief provides comprehensive summaries of Meehl’s contributions.
6. **Robert I. Sutton & Barry M. Staw**: “What Theory is Not” addresses prevalent misunderstandings about theory, as pointed out by Burak Tunca.
7. **Valerie Gray Hardcastle**: A resource on developing a theory in cognitive science, endorsed by Joshua Skewes.
8. **Theory and Explanation in Social Psychology**: The opening chapter by Gawronski and Bodenhausen presents fundamental insights, as recommended by Randy McCarthy.
9. **W. J. McGuire**: “Creative hypothesis generating in psychology” presents heuristics for creative thinking, as suggested by Kimberly Quinn.
10. **Jaccard & Jacoby**: A practical handbook for theory creation and model development, noted by Daniël Lakens.
11. **Fiedler**: Discusses the innovative cycle of theory formation in the realm of personality and social psychology.
12. **Roberts and Pashler (2000)**: Analyzes the effectiveness of theory testing, recommended by Tom Stafford.
13. **Simmering et al (2010)**: A conversation regarding computational modeling in developmental science, shared by Richard Prather.
14. **Psychological Theory Discussion Group**: A Facebook group established for continuous conversations, introduced by Brett Buttliere.
15. **K. G. Wilson (2001)**: Investigates various types of theoretical constructs from a contextual behavioral viewpoint, shared by Eric Morris.
16. **Denny Borsboom**: “Theoretical Amnesia” examines the deficiencies in psychological theory progression, as underscored by Michael P. Grosz.
17. **Fiedler (2017)**: Explores the significance of diagnosticity and a priori theorizing in psychology, recommended by Ivan Grahek.
For more recommendations, Iris van Rooij brings attention to additional threads of interest [here](https://twitter.com/psmaldino/status/952267372231933952) and [here](https://twitter.com/IrisVanRooij/status/1029713122532179968).
These insights highlight the variety and intricacy of theory development within psychology, providing valuable materials for both students and experienced professionals seeking to enhance their comprehension.