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This series of articles, edited by Tolman in Recent Research in Psychology, had its origins in earlier discussions by the Western Canadian Theoretical Psychology Group of CPA. The 12 articles together address the general problem of the continual impact of positivism and its permutations on the way we psychologists think about our discipline and conduct research. Individually, the chapters of this volume reflect diverse and specific themes, which are framed within their own historical scope.
Although the title might initially dissuade those not theoretically inclined to venture a reading, there are two outstanding reasons why this collection of articles is valuable to the psychology community at large. The general reader here has the opportunity to examine the historical background which has shaped psychology as a discipline, and to be educated in the basic vocabulary which characterizes the positivist approach in psychology. This tutelage were taken seriously, researchers would find cause to reflect on the methodologies which drive their own research, as well as that of psychology in general. On the other hand, there is enough specificity in the chapters to engage theoretical psychologists who are well versed in psychology's legacy from scientific empiricism, and who are already in a position to comment on the past and future impact of this legacy.
The articles seem to comprise three sections. In the first section, core problems with psychology's embrace of positivism are discussed. Baker lays the groundwork in the first chapter by describing the primary postulate of positivism as the idea of an objective reality driven by a mechanistic model. For...