A Lost Idea in Psychology: Observation as Starting Point for the Scientific Investigation of Human Behavior

Abstract

Where are the observations in psychology ? Recurrent criticisms have been addressed to psychology for its excessive focus on hypothesis testing, and its disregard for the descriptive, exploratory and observational approaches commonly found in the other natural sciences (e.g., zoology, ethology, behavioral ecology, behavioral biology, primatology). The dominant belief in the discipline is that science only progresses by testing theories. We first gather these criticisms. Then, we present some major benefits to the use of such observations (e.g., stimulating discovery, stimulating theory building, improving experimental designs, producing more ecologically valid research). Finally, we propose concrete ways to conduct systematic observations of human behaviors in psychology (e.g., direct observation, official statistics and big data, descriptive exploratory studies, preliminary surveys, interviews, testimonies). Thus, the present contribution supports the idea according to which the primary question for psychologists should be ‘what is it that I study’ rather than ‘what is my theoretical framework?’.

One “C” to Rule Them All: The Psychology of Creativity Needs to Refocus on Behaviors

“…This proposition echoes the various calls to refocus on the study of behavior and behavioral measures in psychology (e.g., Baumeister, Vohs, & Funder, 2007; Bonetto, Guiller, & Adam‐Troian, 2023). Furthermore, Baumeister, Vohs, and Funder (2007) introduced that the abandonment of behavior in psychology could be seriously detrimental to the goals of the discipline and to its broad influence in the public, the discipline being seen as not making much interesting progress.…”

“…This refocusing on creative behavior would allow for a better understanding of "Creating" (especially creative behaviors in everyday life) by building on the other C's of creativity, but without ever losing sight of the objective of understanding real creative behaviors. This proposition echoes the various calls to refocus on the study of behavior and behavioral measures in psychology (e.g., Baumeister, Vohs, & Funder, 2007;Bonetto, Guiller, & Adam-Troian, 2023). Furthermore, Baumeister, Vohs, and Funder (2007) introduced that the abandonment of behavior in psychology could be seriously detrimental to the goals of the discipline and to its broad influence in the public, the discipline being seen as not making much interesting progress.…”

“…In its attempt to grasp the different facets of the phenomenon, the psychology of creativity seems to have lost sight of its main object of interest: creative human behavior . Indeed, as a behavioral science, psychology aims to describe and explain what people do and why (Baumeister, Vohs, & Funder, 2007; Bonetto, Guiller, & Adam‐Troian, 2023). As a consequence, the psychology of creativity should focus on the description and explanation of human creative behaviors.…”

One ‘C’ to Rule Them All: The Psychology of Creativity Needs to Refocus on Behaviors

“…This refocusing on creative behavior would allow for a better understanding of 'Creating' (especially creative behaviors in everyday life) by building on the other C's of creativity, but without ever losing sight of the objective of understanding real creative behaviors. This proposition echoes the various calls to refocus on the study of behavior and behavioral measures in psychology (e.g., Baumeister et al, 2007;Bonetto et al, 2023). Furthermore, Baumeister et al (2007) introduced that the abandonment of behavior in psychology could be seriously detrimental to the goals of the discipline and to its broad influence in the public, the discipline being seen as not making much interesting progress.…”

Health Psychology and Climate Change: Time to address humanity’s most existential crisis

“…When target behaviours have not received much empirical attention, researchers should carefully observe and map these behaviours in their real-life contexts (Araújo-Soares et al, 2019;Lange et al, 2021). This will improve the applicability of findings to interventions in the contexts where change is needed and may promote stronger theory development as well (Bonetto et al, 2023;Bringmann et al, 2022;Diener et al, 2022).…”